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Dr. Raju Hajela
Physician, international
speaker and consultant on addiction medicine, occupational health and
chronic pain
As a prominent physician, speaker
and consultant on addiction medicine, occupational health and chronic
pain, Dr Raju Hajela has held leadership positions in medical organizations
nationally and internationally. His lectures and workshops have been
delivered worldwide to professionals, corporations, government, community
organizations and to the general public on health and well-being.
As a consultant on Addiction Medicine, Occupational Health and Chronic
Pain in the Calgary Health Region, Vice-President
of the International Society of Addiction Medicine
and the Director, Region
IX (International) of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Dr Hajela speaks
with the authority of an experienced medical insider in his field.
His mission is to promote awareness and interventions related to physical, mental,
social and spiritual well-being. When he speaks you immediately sense his sincere,
yet strong resolve to reduce injuries and illness and enhance the quality of
life for individuals, families and communities, including workplaces and workers.
Health is Wealth in the Workplace
The most precious resource of a healthy corporation
is not just financial balance—it’s the healthy, balanced
functioning of the human resource team. Healthy employees are more
energetic, less likely to be involved in an accident, are sick less
often and are able to recover from illness faster.
Dollars spent on employee health programs usually result in lower absenteeism,
reduced sick leave, and lower job accident rates. Employee health translates
into corporate health and wellness.
Addiction, Chronic Pain and
Mental Health in the Workplace
Alcohol and other drugs related problems
are very costly to corporations. In the workplace, the risk of harm
is evident in terms of safety, work performance and overall productivity.
Workers, supervisors and managers need to recognize problems early
and offer appropriate intervention. Early education works at the
abuse stage, but left unchecked problems can progress to addiction
requiring detailed assessment, treatment and monitoring. The good
news is that addiction is a treatable illness.
An alcohol/drug policy in the workplace is the first step toward
minimizing the costs associated with workplace substance-related
problems. A comprehensive policy will encourage early detection
of substance use disorders, facilitate early intervention, and
as feasible, provide support for the employee to get appropriate
help. It would help the employer to avoid or reduce worker absenteeism,
staff turnover, accidents, grievances, litigation, and disciplinary
action related to addiction-related problems.
Early intervention, education and treatment make a big difference
to individuals, families, workplaces and communities. |
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Dr
Hajela’s extensive knowledge and experience will assist you
and your company to address employee substance use or gambling in an
organized and structured approach:
- Information and education for workers, supervisors and managers
- Developing specific policies for early identification and early
intervention
- Assessment for Substance Use Disorders/Addiction and referral
for treatment as needed
- Monitoring for the returning worker to ensure success
- Organizational initiatives to support returning workers
- Specific steps to assist recovering employees, including what
co-workers can do to offer support and encouragement
Dr Hajela's topics include:
- Workplace Health: Essentials for Managers and Supervisors
- Serenity Now! Optimising Health and Well-Being
- Understanding Addiction: Where is the Choice?
- Stress Management with Assertiveness and Boundaries
- Concepts of Health and Disease - the Vedic Approach
- Staying Real - ABCs of Mental Health!
Brief BIO:
Raju Hajela, CD, MD, MPH, CMRO,
CAME, CCSAM, CISAM, FASAM, FCFP
Dr Hajela received his MD from Dalhousie University in 1982 and
Master of Public Health (MPH) from the Harvard School of Public Health
in 1988. His undergraduate studies were in Physics, an interest he
has maintained, especially as the concepts relate to consciousness
and health. He has practised Transcendental Meditation (TM) since 1986,
completed training in Maharishi Ayurveda in 1994 and provided Continuing
Medical Education (CME) programs for physicians regarding the benefit
of TM personally and for patients.
Dr Hajela served in the Canadian Forces from 1979 to 1995. His assignments
included a Field Medical Officer, United Nations (Golan Heights), Flight
Surgeon, Canadian Forces Europe, Staff Officer - Occupational Health/Surgeon
General’s Office
and Director, Addiction Rehabilitation Centre in Kingston, Ontario. He is a retired
Major.
Dr Hajela is a Certificant of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC),
the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), the Canadian Society of Addiction
Medicine (CSAM) and the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM); and
is a Fellow of ASAM and CFPC. He is a Certified Medical Review Officer
(CMRO) and Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME). He held faculty appointments
in Family Medicine and Psychiatry at Queen's University (1992-2001), and has
taught medical students and residents at the University of Toronto, Queen's and
the University of Calgary.
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