HPMC Occupational Medical Services (OMS) is managed by HPM Corporation, a local, woman-owned business that provides specialized services to federal government clients and their contractors.

Founded in 2001, HPM Corporation has grown into a multi-disciplinary organization capable of providing programs and services in occupational medicine, environmental safety and health, risk communication, health data analysis and trends, health education and promotion, industrial rehabilitation and ergonomics, behavioral health services and project management.

Our mission at HPMC OMS is to continuously improve occupational medical services for our patients, in collaboration with our stakeholders, while inspiring our staff to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value​​. While this mission is still true, over the last two years our new mission became to protect our patients, staff, their families and the community from Covid-19.

Our ability to maintain occupational medical services for essential personnel on site, as well as those teleworking off site, supports the Hanford cleanup mission by ensuring the health and well-being of Hanford workers.

The Covid team

We met the challenge of Covid-19 by establishing and staffing a Covid team consisting of nurses and administrative staff that implemented on-site contact tracing, Covid testing and Covid vaccinations.

We obtained approval from Washington state early in the pandemic to administer all three types of Covid-19 vaccines, including second and booster doses, to make it easier for Hanford site employees to get vaccinations.

We have worked with the Benton-Franklin Health District to provide contact tracing for the workforce to quickly coordinate information on employees in isolation or quarantine. The team also developed general medical information on Covid, including a website, to provide employees with up-to-date information.

Our staff also reached out to connect directly with site employees. HPMC OMS Risk Communicator Dr. Gary Hurwitz hosted weekly Teams meetings for workers to learn about the vaccines and get questions answered.

Vaccine scheduling

We partnered with Hanford Mission Integration Solutions to develop a scheduling application so eligible workers could easily make, change or cancel appointments for vaccinations at our on-site facilities.

The application went live in March 2021, and we have administered approximately 2,000 Covid-19 vaccinations to Hanford employees.

In conjunction with offering Covid-19 vaccines, we continue to administer the flu vaccine for employees. In 2021, we hosted several flu clinics across the site and provided approximately 2,000 doses of the flu vaccine.

Post-infection program

Our company developed a Covid-19 work conditioning program that uses physical training to help Hanford workers restore their ability to work after a Covid-19 infection.

Following an evaluation by an HPMC OMS nurse or medical provider, site employees participate in a 12-week program that focuses on the improvement of aerobic conditioning and progressive strengthening of muscles. At the end of the program, another evaluation is done to assess results.

Wellness program kudos

Our Health and Wellness Team earned silver level recognition for our employee wellness program, Own It!, from the American Heart Association’s Workplace Health Achievement Index, which recognizes organizations for their implementation of quality workplace health programs and a culture of best health practices.

During the pandemic, the team saw a need for more employee engagement so expanded its services through live wellness webinars, workshops, virtual lunch-and-learn series and on-demand prerecorded presentations available online.

These programs allowed employees to interact virtually with our staff so they could see their faces, hear their voices and have meaningful conversations.

Audrey Wright, health education specialist, is one of 257 professionals across the country who have received the faculty designation in 2021 from the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA). This designation is earned by completing 24 hours of annual training and signifies commitment, leadership and expertise within this rapidly evolving field.

Customer satisfaction

Our company uses an in-house, web-based survey through SullivanLuallin to assess patient satisfaction with our staff, facilities and services. This allows us to get feedback from each patient that walks through the door and takes the survey, and we use the feedback to manage the quality of our services.

We are constantly exceeding national averages for patient satisfaction.

At the end of the 2021 calendar year, patients gave our front desk staff an overall satisfaction rating of 99.5%, our health care team a 99.7% rating, and our facilities a 99.7% rating. Patients indicated their overall satisfaction level of interactions with us was 99.7%.

Making a difference

We believe in the importance of building relationships and enhancing the lives of those in the communities we serve. We recognize the diverse interests of our region and the people who live here. We continue to engage our community stakeholders and recognize the value of community service to our business. We also are extremely proud of our staff who volunteer their knowledge, skill and experience with community, professional and educational boards and organizations.  

Because of pandemic restrictions, HPMC was unable to participate in any in-person community events. However, the organization was able to support the surrounding community through financial donations and our annual holiday toy drive.

Our team has hands-on experience in supporting clients who are addressing a wide range of occupational health issues. We have the knowledge and capability to develop comprehensive and compliant occupational medicine programs, deal with specific workplace health issues, and perform risk analysis and medical surveillance for virtually any work environment. We are committed to providing patients with the best care experience possible. We recognize that this involves going beyond providing the highest quality medical care and outcomes. 

Since our beginning, HPMC has developed not only business systems and infrastructure but professional knowledge and skill second-to-none in the small business community. We are proud of our growth and development and excited about our future success and expansion.

Hiram S. Whitmer is president and program manager at HPMC Occupational Medical Services.