Behind the scenes of GS: health in the workplace
CERN has had its own Medical Service since 1965. Open to members of the personnel, users and visitors, the team offers care and advice with professionalism and commitment.
The Medical Service team, currently consisting of three doctors, four nurses, a lab technician, a psychologist and two administrative assistants, provides an ever-increasing number of consultations. In 2013, around 7800 people were seen by the Medical Service, mainly at walk-in consultations, and more than 6665 further tests were performed (e.g. electrocardiograms, hearing tests, lung function tests, urine tests, blood tests). While its chief objective is to monitor the health of the CERN community in relation to their work through regular medical check-ups, the Medical Service also performs an important primary care function: “More than 10,000 people work in CERN’s offices, workshops, tunnels and worksites every day. As in any community of that size, sometimes certain situations arise that demand immediate action or even hospitalisation, emergencies which the Medical Service deals with on a regular basis," explains Dolores Richard, head of the infirmary. “In less urgent cases, we refer patients to the appropriate specialists. We put a lot of emphasis on the quality of our interactions with patients and do our best to establish a solid and trusting relationship with each of them. To this end, medical confidentiality is of course guaranteed.”
Completely refurbished at the end of 2013/beginning of 2014, the CERN infirmary now welcomes patients under optimal conditions. Here you can see the brand new waiting room.The Medical Service is heavily involved in accident prevention and in the promotion of health in the workplace, in collaboration with other internal and external services. “Numerous prevention measures have been put in place in cooperation with departments,” says Dr Eric Reymond, head of the Medical Service. “For example, we are currently working with the Fire and Rescue Service, the Radiation Protection Group and the Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève to establish protocols to improve the treatment of wounds contaminated with radioactive substances. In addition, throughout the year, we visit people at their workstations to remind them about ergonomics and, often in partnership with the HSE Unit, we run specific campaigns about the various hazards we may encounter at CERN.”
The Medical Service also plays a key role in encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Testament to that are its “Move! Eat better” campaign, launched in 2012, and its support for the CERN Relay Race (which this year will take place on 5 June) and for the upcoming Bike to Work challenge (in June 2014).
 |  |
| The infirmary's new examination room... | ... and its new emergency room. |
Practical information about the Medical Service can be found here.
