This is a follow up to my inquiry from last week…whether colleagues are granting accommodations for working with COVID-19 patients, solely on the basis of a BMI ­>30.

There were four respondents.  None of them were granting accommodations without comorbidities.

I would really like to get some more responses….please respond directly to me. So, c’mon.

Meanwhile, I’d like to share something… I was able to look at the biometrics of our population of employees in my system.  Source was our “Wellness” Program.   25% (approx. 1500/6000) had BMIs >30.

Going to tease it out a bit more by job title, some additional person characteristics.  Probably won’t be any surprises, but an interesting exercise.  More fun than taking care of back pain.

Ed Galaid

Edward I. Galaid, MD, MPH, FACOEM

ABIM, ABPM (OM)

Medical Director, Occupational Medicine

Roper Saint Francis Healthcare

Charleston, SC 29401

Member, ACOEM Task Group on Law Enforcement Officer Health

Special Expert, NFPA Fire Service Occupational Safety & Health (FIX-AAA) Committee

843-402-5053