Aaohn Journal最新文献

It is often challenging finding time to carefully read research articles and determine how findings apply to clinical practice. Many occupational health nurses may be unfamiliar with or out of practice using various epidemiologic concepts and terms from clinical research. This article provides a brief overview of these concepts and terms. Understanding the basics of research is the first step toward using research findings in evidence-based practice.

The occupational vision assessment identifies visual ability that is below the standard for a safe and effective level of productivity. Early identification and prevention of further vision loss enhances workplace productivity and job performance quality.

The stressful conditions under which nurses work, due in part to the nursing shortage, are among the risk factors that contribute to nurses' abuse of illicit drugs. Nurses differ from the general population in that they work in an environment where they not only have access to controlled substances, but also are exposed to death and dying, the stress of which can increase the risk of drug abuse. However, practicing while impaired places patients' lives at risk and decreases staff morale.

This article describes the process used by a large U.S. manufacturing company to successfully integrate full-service primary care centers at two locations. The company believed that by providing employees with health promotion and disease prevention services, including screening, early diagnosis, and uncomplicated illness treatment, its health care costs could be significantly reduced while saving employees money. To accurately demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of adding primary care to existing occupational health services, a thorough financial analysis projected the return on investment (ROI) of the program. Decisions were made about center size, the scope of services, and staffing. A critical part of the ROI analysis involved evaluating employee health claim data to identify the actual cost of health care services for each center and the projected costs if the services were provided on-site. The pilot initiative included constructing two on-site health center facilities staffed with primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, and other health care professionals. Key outcome metrics from the pilot clinics exceeded goals in three of four categories. In addition, clinic use after 12 months far exceeded benchmarks for similar clinics. Most importantly, the pilot clinics were operating with a positive cash flow within the first year and demonstrated an increasingly positive ROI.

Life can change in an instant, leaving you wondering what lesson is to be learned. My recent accident curtailed a frenetic schedule and forced an uninvited reprioritization of activities. However, I am finding some special moments that otherwise might have gone unseen or not happened at all. This article is a personal exploration of the frustrations and rewards of time necessarily spent recuperating.

Managing the complexity of medical recordkeeping in an occupational health setting has been compared to navigating a shadowy maze. Successful navigation requires knowledge-based clarity and direction. This article provides an overview of regulatory requirements related to medical recordkeeping in occupational health settings and highlights key medical record legislation and relevant practice standards. It discusses the importance of facility policies and procedures to recordkeeping compliance and identifies critical elements of these policies and procedures. The article identifies the range of documents included in medical recordkeeping in an occupational health setting, the primary determinants of the content, maintenance, and retention of medical records, and the medical recordkeeping tools and resources available to occupational health nurses. It provides answers to many frequently asked questions regarding recordkeeping.

When I was first introduced to the Six Sigma process, I resisted it with every ounce of energy I had. I continuously fabricated reasons so that I was unable to complete the training that my company required. When it came time for my performance review, I could not hide the truth from my manager; I had not completed the required training. It was then that I began my journey into the world of Six Sigma. Once I understood that a black belt and a green belt certification had nothing to do with karate, I felt much better.

Influenza is a serious infectious disease, causing 226,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the United States each year. Since 1981, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that all health care workers receive influenza vaccination annually. Current CDC reports indicate that only 40% of health care workers receive influenza vaccination. Vaccination rates are lower among registered nurses than other health care workers. This integrative review encompasses international research published between 2003 and 2009, and explores factors that influence nurses' decision to receive or decline influenza vaccination. Findings indicated that concerns about the vaccine's safety and efficacy continue to be major barriers for registered nurses. Future efforts to improve vaccination rates should include rigorous education on vaccine efficacy and safety specific to nursing personnel.

Previous studies report that truck drivers are at increased risk for illness and on-the-job mortality. It is unknown whether owner-operator truck drivers face the same risks as employee drivers, yet few studies have targeted owner-operators as a study population. This study examined the overall and cause-specific mortality ratios for a cohort with owner-operator truck drivers constituting 69% of the study population. Of the 26 major disease classifications and 92 specific causes of death examined, only mortality due to transportation accidents was significantly elevated (standardized mortality ratio=1.52, 95% confidence interval=1.36-1.70). Leading causes of death were ischemic heart disease and lung cancer, although risk was below that of the general population. Transportation accidents pose a particular hazard for members of the trade association. The absence of excess disease mortality deserves careful interpretation, and may be due to both a strong healthy worker effect and a short monitoring period.