206 South 11th Ave., Suite 48
Yakima, WA 98902
509.575.5058

516 West 4th Ave.
Toppenish, WA 98948
509.865.1555

Time is Money.

You won't find anyone who disagrees with that statement. And when an employee is off work due to an on-the-job injury, it's money out of the employer's pocket.

Central Washington Occupational Medicine recognizes your concerns, and concentrates on helping you maintain a healthy workforce. Diagnosis and treatment immediately following a work-related injury is critical to limiting future medical and lost time expenses.

Most work-related injuries are minor, and with appropriate medical treatment, an employee can return to work with little or no lost time. More severe injuries may require an employee to be away from work for a period of time to recover. In either case, factors that help keep medical and time-loss payments at a minimum for the employer include:

• Appropriate access to and timely delivery of necessary medical services
• Effective and timely communication between all involved parties to expedite an early return to work

Pre Employment Exams

In order to detect any potential injury risk factors prior to hiring, Central Washington Occupational Medicine can perform Pre-Placement Physical Exams, including:

• Audiometry
• Spirometry
• Drug Screening
• Physical Capacity Evaluation
• X-Ray
• Vision
• Breath/Alcohol
• EKG

The Right Provider for the Right Treatment

Our physicians serve not only as treating physicians, but also as a "gatekeeper" for ongoing monitoring and coordination throughout the continuum of required care. Should a referral to another specifically trained physician be required, we coordinate the appointments and care in order to promote a quick and healthy return to work. 

Communication

As with any work-related injury or illness, a number of individuals and organizations are involved, including the employee, employer, treating providers, case managers, claims reps, and state regulators. The communication between all parties involved is critical to a safe and timely outcome for the employee. To help facilitate this process, we have a case manager who provides timely information to all parties involved. After each visit to the clinic, the employee receives a Medical Job Restriction Form, which includes any work restrictions and instructions for continued care, or a release from care and the approval to return to work. A copy of this MJR is also faxed to the employer, L&I, and/or another insurance company. 

Features and Benefits

Central Washington Occupational Medicine treats employees fairly, and makes sure that employers and insurers are assisted by our physicians and clinical staff in order to reduce medical and disability costs and increase worker productivity. Central Washington Occupational Medicine offers employees and employers many benefits, including:

• Medical management from the day of injury until employee is released back to work
• Networks of specialists and allied professionals experienced in worker's compensation cases
• Medical Job Restriction status reports
• The only Medical Director and Medical Review Officer Board Certified in Occupational Medicine in the Yakima Valley
• Early communication and evaluation of expected return to work date
• Clinical database for management analysis

List of Services

At Central Washington Occupational Medicine, we work hard to ensure that employees can return to work in a healthy and timely manner. Our program works, and we can help you with a variety of screening and injury needs, including:

• Injury Care
• Contusions
• CDL
• Physical Exams
• Sprains
• Urine Drug Screens
• Lacerations
• Breath Alcohol
• Chest Injuries
• Hepatitis A and B
• Immunizations
• Insect Bites
• X-Rays
• Physical Capacity Tests
• Tendonitis
• Hemia
• Lab Tests & Venipuncture
• Wound Care
• Carpal Tunnel
• Chemical Exposure
• Sliver Removal
• Respiratory Certification
• Skin Sensitivities
• Vaccinations
• DOT Drug Screen Consortiums
• Mask Fit Tests
• Tuberculosis Tests
• Burns
• Blood-Borne Exposures
• Back Injuries
• Tetanus Immunizations
• Joint Injuries
• Random Drug Screening Pools
• Cholinesterase Monitoring
• Coordinated Physical Therapy Modalities

Our Providers

Betty A. Cohen, MD, MPH
Dr. Cohen attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She completed her residencies at the Harvard University School of Public Health and Carney Hospital, both in Boston. Dr. Cohen is board certified in occupational medicine. Dr. Cohen is a Physician Mentor with the Eastern Washington Center for Occupational Health and Education (COHE) and serves on the COHE advisory board. 



David Olson, MD
Dr. David Olson went to medical school at The University of Minnesota. He completed an Emergency Medicine residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN. Dr. Olson is board certified in Emergency Medicine and spent many years in the Emergency Room at St. Elizabeth/Providence Medical Center. Dr. Olson has completed training in Occupational and Environmental Medicine at The University of California at San Francisco. He is actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America. He is married with three children and four grandchildren. 


Tony Stephas, PA-C
Tony Stephas was born in Emmetsburg, IA and started his medical career in the U.S. Navy while serving in active duty. He earned an associate of science degree in Respiratory Therapy from St. Paul Technical College in St. Paul, MN and his physician assistant degree from Kettering College of Medical Arts in Ohio. Tony worked as a respiratory therapist at the University of Minnesota Hospital & Clinic. He went on to work as a physician assistant for Seamar Migrant Health Center in Mt. Vernon, WA before joining the Yakima Valley Farm Worker's clinic in Toppenish. He joined CWOM in 1999. Tony is bilingual (Spanish) and is an orchardist in the lower valley. 


Lynn E. Briggs PA-C, MPH
Lynn Briggs grew up in Cheyenne, WY. He received his A.S. certificate in 1977 in the physician assistant program from Baylor University in Waco, TX. He completed his B.S. in 1981 with a degree in psychology from the University of the State of New York in Albany. While serving in the U.S. Army, Lynn received a certificate for completing the U.S. Army Flight Surgeon's Course in 1982. He earned his Masters in Public Health from the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, OK in 1986. Lynn served as a physician assistant and officer in the U.S. Army for 24 years. He entered civilian life in 1994, working for a health services organization in Caribou, ME, until coming to work at Central Washington Occupational Medicine in January, 2008. Lynn and his wife enjoy life in the Yakima Valley and taking trips on his Harley Davidson motorcycle. 


Matthew Rosenberger, PA-C
Matthew Rosenberger was born in Port Washington, WI. He graduated from Random Lake HS, in Random Lake, WI. He attended the University of Alaska and spent six years in the U.S Navy where he was educated as a Naval Corpsman and then a Respiratory Therapist. Matthew spent the next 15 years as a professional Respiratory Therapist. He graduated from the Medex Northwest Physician Assistant program in 2001. He taught course work at Medex Northwest to first year students and was a clinical preceptor to second year students. He worked for the Yakima Valley Farm Workers clinics in the lower valley and currently works in emergency room medicine in Sunnyside as well as with CWOM. He is the proud father of two daughters and two grandchildren. When he is not working or causing co-workers to laugh hysterically, he likes to golf, go camping, fishing, hiking, and hunting.