Walk-In Clinic — Workers’ Compensation Plans
On-the-job injuries can be expensive, time-consuming and sometimes confusing. Companies do not always get the information or the results they need to efficiently handle their injured employee or their Workers’ Compensation claim. At Playa Vista Medical Center, we developed our Occupational Medicine Program with your business in mind. From on-site injury treatment and examinations to alcohol & drug testing, our Occupational Medicine Program can comprehensively handle all your business health needs.
In most cases, your work status reports are separate and are sent over shortly after your employee is discharged. One of the biggest benefits of our occupational medicine and health care program lies in our physicians and staff. Our Occupational Medicine Specialists maximize functional recovery in an effort to decrease workers’ compensation costs, return your employee to do modified work, enhance worker productivity, and improve job satisfaction.
Goals of Occupational Medicine:
- To maintain and improve the well being of the employee through education and early detection of illnesses.
- To provide direct care, counseling, referral and/or rehabilitation for those with work-related injuries and/or illnesses.
- To minimize the effects of health hazards on all workers in the work place.
- To reduce absenteeism, disruption in lifestyle, and delayed functional recovery by providing accurate health assessments in a timely fashion.
- To comply with federal health and safety regulations, e.g., those required by OSHA.
- To provide professional consultation services in an effort to meet the health care needs of workers, their employers and their claims managers.
- To aid in the placement of employees into a work environment that is compatible with their physical and psychological health status.
Jonathan Velasquez, M.D.
Executive Director, Occupational Medicine and Medical Review Officer
Dr. Jonathan Velasquez was born and raised in San Mateo, in the San Francisco Bay Area. He first moved to Southern California for his undergraduate studies at UC Irvine, majoring in Biological Sciences, Philosophy, and Italian Studies. After graduating, he continued his biomedical research on mouse models of colorectal cancer, and also worked as an EMT in Torrance and Santa Monica. He received his medical degree from the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and Charles Drew University College of Medicine. During medical school, Dr. Velasquez spent a summer in Queztaltenango (Xela), Guatemala working at the local clinics and the Hospital Totonicapan. After medical school, Dr. Velasquez completed his Family Medicine Residency at UCLA Santa Monica Hospital. During his residency, he traveled to Maputo, Mozambique in Africa to work with UCLA Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Central Hospital and Hospital Geral Polana Canico. Dr. Velasquez is married and has a daughter, an English bulldog and an adopted cat. He enjoys traveling, sports, outdoor activities, arts and entertainment, and spending time with family and friends.
Susan Karpiel, M.B.A.
Director of Marketing, Business Development and Occupational Health Programs
Susan has been in the health care field for the last 16 years as an ambulatory care consultant with Karpiel Consulting Group Inc., a nationally recognized leader specializing in emergency medicine process improvement, throughput and patient satisfaction. Her expertise includes marketing of occupational health and urgent care products, and providing financial and feasibility analysis for Hospital and emergency physician group clients. Susan has developed an expertise in providing “state-of-the-art strategic, operational, financial and technical support to emergency services providers that allows clients to meet the needs of their customers through the provision of high quality, cost-effective and customer focused care.
Susan was responsible for planning, developing, and opening three free standing urgent care centers in Southern California. She is also involved in the review and negotiation of managed care contracts.
Prior to joining Karpiel Consulting Group, Inc., Ms. Karpiel has over 25 years of investment banking and lending experience with nationally recognized financial institutions such as Bank of America, Citicorp, CIT and Coast Business Credit, as a Vice President, Senior Account Executive and Senior Transactor.
Ms. Karpiel obtained her MBA from Pepperdine University in 1979, and her B.S. degree with emphasis in Finance and Economics from California State University at Northridge in 1976.
An avid traveler, Susan has globe trotted the world traveling to date to 105 countries. In addition to traveling, Susan enjoys scuba diving, cycling, spending time with her Samoyed “Misho” and sailing on her 40 foot yacht “Great Escape.” Susan is on the Board of Directors for Precious Life Shelter and Food Finders.