News Releases

September 29 , 2005
West Georgia Health System becomes a drug-free workplace

West Georgia Health System today adopts the Drug’s Don’t Work plan.  Drug’s Don’t Work in Georgia is an affiliate program of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Georgia Department of Human Resources.  It is a program designed to assist businesses in achieving drug-free certification.

Employers in Georgia certified by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation as having a drug-free workplace are entitled to a 7.5% discount on their workers’ compensation premiums.  Along with workers’ compensation benefits, West Georgia Health System participates in a drug-free workplace for it’s patients and employees.  “Having a health system where the employees take responsibility for their safety and the safety of others is of our utmost concern.  We can take better care of our patients if we set high standards for ourselves.”  Jerry Fulks, CEO, says emphatically.

• West Georgia Health System has taken these five steps to become a workplace free of drugs. 
• A substance abuse police has been created.
• Drug testing has been, and will continue to be conducted within the organization.
• Each employee must attend two hours of employee education each year.
• The organization must conduct two hours of supervisor training each year.
• The company must have either an Employee Assistance Program or a referral list of treatment and counseling centers in the area.  WGHS has both.

For more information on how to become a drug-free workplace, log on to the Georgia Chamber of Commerce website at www.gachamber.com or call Chuck Wade, State Director of the Drug’s Don’t Work program at (404) 223-2277.  Information packets provided upon request that include sample policies that meet certified drug-free workplace requirements.