Employee Health Service
Provides all New York State departments and agencies medical examination services mandated by Civil Service Law.
Overview
Employee Health Service (EHS) offers medical examination services, including pre-employment, fitness-for-duty / return-to-work, and occupational health examinations for all New York State departments and agencies. EHS provides agencies with a determination of an individual's ability to safely perform the duties of a State job and assists agencies to fulfill mandated medical monitoring requirements. In addition, EHS Nurses perform occupational health screening and immunization services throughout the State.
Complete information regarding EHS can be found in Section 2600 of the State Personnel Management Manual.
Agency Referral Examinations
Agency referral examinations are conducted for employees referred by State agencies for a variety of reasons, some of which are noted below:
- excessive use of sick leave credits
- medical evaluation of employees hoping to return from extended sick leave
- employees whose work performance may be adversely affected by what appears to be a physical or mental condition, alcoholism, or drug abuse
Agency referral examinations are conducted at the EHS medical examination center in Cohoes and at the offices of EHS consulting physicians. Agencies choosing to have evaluations conducted at locations other than the Cohoes medical examination center or by consultants who are not employees of the Department of Civil Service, must pay the provider's fee.
Referrals must be made in writing to the EHS Medical Director in Cohoes by submitting form EHS-707, Agency Request for Medical Examination.
Drug and Alcohol Testing
The use and abuse of alcohol and drugs has a detrimental effect on the productivity, attendance, and health of our workforce. As a public employer, New York State must be vigilant to protect the safety and welfare of the public with whom we interact and the employees with whom we work.
EHS, at the request of State agencies, will conduct testing for alcohol and controlled substance abuse for employees and prospective employees.
- EHS-709, Supervisor's Observation Checklist
- EHS-710, Scheduling Procedures for Immediate Testing
- EHS-707, Agency Request for Medical Examination
- EHS-742.4, Authorization for Release and Disclosure of Medical Information to a State Agency
- EHS-752, Authorization for Drug/Alcohol Testing and Release of Medical Information
- Alcohol and Controlled Substances in the Workplace
Workers with Disabilities (55 b/c)
Information regarding the Governor's Program to Hire Individuals and Veterans with Disabilities (55 b/c) can be found here.
Pre-placement Physicals
Pre-placement physicals are conducted by EHS only for candidates who have received a bona fide conditional offer of employment to competitive class, non-competitive class, or labor class jobs for which there are predetermined and announced medical and physical standards (see Section 2620(G) "Development of Physical/Medical Standards"). A list of job titles that have physical/medical requirements can also be found here.
Pre-placement physical examinations are conducted at the EHS medical examination centers. Depending upon the specific physical and medical standards for a job title and whether the appointing agency wishes to pay the cost, examinations may also be conducted at the offices of EHS consulting physicians. Agencies choosing to have evaluations conducted at locations other than the medical examination center or by consultants who are not employees of the Department of Civil Service must pay that provider's fee.
Reinstatement Requests
Under Sections 71 and 73 of the Civil Service Law, certain employees who were terminated as a result of a physical or mental disability have the right to a reinstatement medical evaluation to determine their ability to perform the duties of the position from which they were terminated. The EHS determination is provided to the employee, the former employing agency and Department of Civil Service Staffing Services Division for further action pursuant to Sections 71 or 73.
Reinstatement medical examinations are conducted at the EHS medical examination center in Cohoes.
A former employee seeking reinstatement after termination under Sections 71 or 73 should be advised by the appointing authority to complete form EHS-705, Reinstatement Examination Request and send to EHS to request a reinstatement physical examination.
Due to the costs incurred by former employees to travel to Cohoes for an examination, EHS will not schedule an examination if the medical information from the former employee's physician clearly indicates he/she cannot perform the essential duties of his/her former position.
Occupational Health
Physical examinations and testing are arranged for employees exposed to hazardous waste, arsenic, heavy metals, lead, PCBs, toluene, pesticides, hepatitis, hydrocarbons, asbestos, noise, etc. The range of services includes urine tests, blood tests, audiometry, spirometry, chest x-rays, and complete physical examinations conducted or overseen by an EHS physician.
Occupational health examinations are conducted at the EHS medical examination centers and at the offices of EHS consulting physicians. All agencies will be charged a fee for this service, based on examination type and location.
A request for an occupational health examination and/or testing should be made on form EHS-699, Agency Request for Occupational/Mandatory Health Examinations and mailed or faxed to EHS by the appropriate agency personnel, health and safety, or employee relations officer. Facsimiles may be sent to (518) 233-3131. A separate request should be submitted for each group for whom occupational health examinations are required.