Valley Hospital Catering To Business Needs Occupational Medicine Department To Open Nov. 6
Business owners here will soon join the list of those with reason to shop close to home for health care services.
Valley Hospital and Medical Center will open its new occupational medicine department on Nov. 6. Occupational medicine is an umbrella term for health care programs designed for the business market.
“(It’s things) like respiratory exams mandated by OSHA, exams for certain people that work with hazardous materials, or drug screening,” said Dale Breneman, the program’s coordinator at Deaconess Medical Center.
The Valley program is a satellite of the occupational medicine department at Deaconess Medical Center downtown. Both Valley Hospital and Deaconess are operated by Empire Health Services.
Breneman said the staff also will keep up on new developments in labor safety laws, so a business can consult with them for information on changes.
The Valley location will also offer “ergonomic consulting” - counseling businesses on ways to make the work environment more body-friendly. Breneman said that includes ways to prevent gradually work-induced injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Priscilla Gilkey, an Empire Health Services spokeswoman, said the new department will be located on the first floor of Valley Hospital, in an area that formerly house its oncology unit. The oncology unit was moved to the third floor earlier this year.
Candy company sold
Ownership has changed at one Valley manufacturing company, but it’s product remains as sweet as ever.
Bruttles Northwest, a Valley candy wholesaler, recently found itself with a new owner, name and location.
The business has moved from 2602 N. Sullivan Road to 10014 E. Montgomery Drive, and was re-named Bernie’s Bruttles.
Caryl Haase sold the business because “she just got tired of it,” said factory manager Stephanie Reiner. New owner Bernice Gutknecht will continue to make the same four types of candy made by Bruttles Northwest, Reiner said.
The business manufactures caramels, peanut brittle, and two types of bruttles. Bruttles are chocolate-dipped cashew or peanut brittle squares.
The business will service all of the accounts handled by Bruttles Northwest. “We sell all over the country,” Reiner said. Bernie’s Bruttles also has accounts in Canada, England and Japan.
Reiner said the business will continue to sell exclusively as a wholesaler, except during the holiday season. She said the company will operate a retail kiosk at NorthTown Mall starting Nov. 1.
The business has operated out of the Valley for seven years; five as Bruttles International and two as Bruttles Northwest.
, DataTimes