Unisex PPE That Doesn’t Fit Women Linked to Workplace Accidents

William D. Jones, MD is an independent doctor in Oklahoma City, OK, specializing in preventative medicine. Through his involvement with the American Medical Association, William D. Jones, MD has researched infection prevention related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Infection prevention and control have never been more widely discussed than during the coronavirus pandemic, which medical professionals have widely attributed to the dramatic increase in infections within the medical industry. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is in such high demand that many organizations and entities realize that their PPE is insufficient in supply or design. Extreme pressure from the pandemic’s demands on healthcare professionals has led some to criticize how most unisex PPE is designed to fit the average European male, for example.

Improperly fitting PPE can be a source of anxiety or legitimate danger for women in healthcare who are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Statistics from the American Medical Association show that 57 percent of women using PPE were significantly hampered by the size and shape of the equipment being ill-suited. There is a higher risk of injury from slipping up when using gloves or shoes that don’t fit. Some women even reported developing pressure ulcers from masks that wouldn’t form a vacuum seal without forceful adjustment.

Three Health Communications Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic

William D. Jones, MD, works in occupational medicine at his practice in Oklahoma City, OK. A member of the American Medical Association since 1988, William D. Jones, MD, of Oklahoma (OK) is certified by the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure. One current concern for him and other other medical practitioners is communication about non-COVID-related questions.

Major concerns facing non-COVID patients attending medical appointments and procedures range from lack of a straightforward process after arriving for the appointment, the protective items and medical certificates must-haves in the facility, and the availability of in-vehicle registration to minimize physical contact.

Ironically, telemedicine offers a new communication challenge though it accords a safe avenue to access medical attention. As much as healthcare providers encourage and educate the public on the benefits of telemedicine, studies show that most adults do not understand the intricacies, lack the technology, or openly ignore the benefits, preferring physical facility visits instead.

An Overview of Oklahoma Coronavirus Face Covering Mandate

For over two decades, William D. Jones, MD has worked at his private practice in Oklahoma City, OK where he specializes in occupational and preventive medicine. During his career, he served at Norman Regional Hospital in Norman, OK as the medical director. William D. Jones, MD has been keenly following the coronavirus pandemic in Oklahoma.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the City Council of Oklahoma approved an emergency public safety ordinance which compels everyone to wear face coverings in all indoor public places across the city. The ordinance that took effect immediately was backed by public health officials who said face coverings were key in slowing down the spread of COVID-19. According to the new regulations, everyone above 11 years is required to put on a face covering which includes either a mask or face shield. Children above the age of 3 years are encouraged to have a face covering although it is not mandatory.

Some of the exceptions of face coverings according to the ordinance include children aged below 10 years unless the mandate is enforced by a school or daycare facility and patrons who are eating or drinking in restaurants or bars. Other exceptions include individuals with developmental disabilities, patients receiving dental services, employees working in an office who don’t have face-to-face interactions with the public, and those attending religious services where social distancing is required.

The face covering requirement is expected to lapse on September 8, 2020 unless extended. A few weeks after the face covering mandate, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt indicated COVID-19 numbers had dropped compared to the period before the mandate was issued. According to his statement, public health data showed daily coronavirus diagnoses had gone down.

What Are Employee Protections under FFCR Act?

William D. Jones, MD, of Oklahoma City, OK, has over 25 years of experience in medicine. In addition to working in healthcare, William D. Jones, MD, has also been in private practice – also located in Oklahoma City, OK – for almost 24 years with focus areas that include occupational and preventive medicine.

In recent months, COVID-19 has been a priority in the state for all healthcare providers and the public at large, with legislation being enacted to protect everyone’s health and financial security through the Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA). FFCRA requires certain employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide certain types of leave to employees for COVID-19-specific reasons.

Effective through the end of 2020, the law makes provisions for paid sick leave, family leave, or medical leave. The law allows for two weeks of paid sick leave if a person has to be quarantined or is dealing with symptoms of COVID-19, two weeks of paid sick leave but at two-thirds the employee’s pay rate to care for an individual with the virus, and “an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave at two-thirds” of the employees pay rate to care for a child.

The Act specifies what conditions that qualify under FFCRA and include:

*federal, state, or local order to quarantine because of the virus.
*when employees are advised by healthcare providers to self-isolate.
*if an employee is seeking a diagnosis and experiencing symptoms.
*if an employee is caring for an individual or a child with COVID-19.
*if an employee has to remain home to care for child as result of school closures.

The 2018 AMA Research Symposium in Maryland

2018 AMA Research Symposium
Image: ama-assn.org

An occupational and primary preventive medicine professional with nearly three decades of experience, Dr. William D. Jones earned his MD from Brown University and then completed his residency training at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, OK. Professionally, William D. Jones, MD, maintains membership in professional organizations such as the American Medical Association (AMA).

A leader in the medical field, AMA has supported research efforts, assisted with the development of public health policies, and served a wide membership of medical professionals since its founding in 1847. The association hosts numerous events every year for its members, including its Research Symposium.

The 2018 AMA Research Symposium will take place in National Harbor, Maryland, on November 9 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Hundreds of individuals from across the nation will present their original scientific research at the event. Those eligible to submit abstracts for the annual Research Symposium include medical students, fellows, residents, and candidates with Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification.

AMA Targets Sugar-sweetened Beverages

American Medical Association
Image: wire.ama-assn.org

Based in Oklahoma City, OK, William D. Jones, MD, has operated his own private medical practice focused on occupational therapy and preventive medicine for nearly 20 years. Active in his field, William D. Jones, MD, spends time away from his Oklahoma City, OK, practice engaging with professional organizations that further his education, such as the American Medical Association.

The American Medical Association recently updated its policy position to address the rising epidemic of type 2 diabetes and its link to sugary beverage consumption. With FDA figures estimating that Americans consume nearly 16 percent of their total daily calories as “empty” sugars, educating the public about sugar-sweetened drinks and their effect on overall health is the route that the AMA is choosing to take to address the issue.

Some of the new recommendations that the AMA will push for on a legislative level include limiting the access and sale of sugary beverages in elementary and high schools, as well as the implementation of mandatory warning labels that clearly outline the health risks that come with excessive consumption of these drinks.

Oklahoma State Medical Association Foundation Projects

 

Oklahoma State Medical Association
Image: okmed.org

William D. Jones, MD, is an Oklahoma City, OK-based physician specializing in occupational and preventive medicine. As a member of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, William D. Jones, MD, is part of an organization with a charitable foundation arm aimed at improving public health across the state.

Established in 1991, the Oklahoma State Medical Association (OSMA) Foundation promotes scientific and medical research focused on the betterment of public health. Support from the foundation may be provided through the application of assets to individuals, corporations, trusts, funds, or foundations whose research or purposes are scientific, educational, or charitable in nature.

Past initiatives supported by the OSMA foundation have been centered on topics such as obesity awareness and smoke-free families. OSMA has also provided assistance to medical students and residents in transition from clinical training to professional practices. Future programming may focus on charitable healthcare delivery and research, communication within the medical community, or continuing medical education programs for physicians.

An Introduction to Occupational Medicine

William D Jones MD

William D. Jones, MD, has practiced medicine in and around Oklahoma City, OK, for more than 20 years. Focused primarily on occupational and preventive medicine, William D. Jones has treated workers from a variety of Oklahoma (OK) locations.

Occupational health functions where work and health meet. The field addresses not only the prevention of work-related injuries and illness but also the care and treatment of those who have to miss work for health reasons. Occupational physicians evaluate those who have experienced an impairment and help recovering patients return to work whenever possible, a process that studies have shown supports the recovery process on a mental and physical level.

These services play a crucial role in the lives of the patients themselves and in the well-being of the economy at large. Data suggests that each year, the US workforce loses 40 million productivity days due to incapacitated workers. Applying an in-depth understanding of regulatory systems and workers’ compensation laws, as well as available treatments and rehabilitative systems, the occupational physician helps these workers to recover their abilities whenever possible.

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Explained

OK College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Image: .acoem.org

A private-practice physician based in Oklahoma City, OK, William D. Jones, MD, practices occupational and preventive medicine. William D. Jones, MD, also serves as the secretary and treasurer for the OK College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

At the most basic level, the term “occupational and environmental medicine” refers to the medical specialty that evaluates the ability of employees to perform work. Specialists in the field understand the impact of physical, biological, and social environments on employees, as well as the importance of protecting workers’ health at all times. In addition to determining the arrangements of work based on the health of the employee, occupational and environmental medicine specialists assess the health outcomes of various environmental exposures in the workplace.

The occupational and environmental medicine specialty stresses the importance of prevention, advocating for proper safety training for workers and monitoring workers’ health as they return to full duty. Occupational and environmental medicine specialists often work as clinical physicians, medical directors, and chief medical officers.