The West Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Initiative: practicum training for a new marketplace.
BACKGROUND
Occupational medicine practice has experienced a shift from larger corporate medical departments to organizations providing services for a variety of industries. Specific training needs will accompany this shift in practice patterns; these may differ from those developed in the traditional industrial or corporate medical department setting.


METHODS
The West Virginia Occupational Health and Safety Initiative involves occupational medicine residents in consultation to a variety of small industries and businesses. It uses the expertise of occupational physicians, health and safety extension faculty, and faculty in engineering and industrial hygiene. Residents participate in multidisciplinary evaluations of worksites, and develop competencies in team-building, workplace health and safety evaluation, and occupational medical consulting.


METHODS
Specific competencies that address requirements for practicum training are used to measure the trainee's acquisition of knowledge and skills. Particular attention is paid to the acquisition of group problem-solving expertise, skills relevant to the current market in practice opportunities, and the specific career interests of the resident physician. Preliminary evaluation indicates the usefulness of training in evaluation of diverse industries and worksites.


CONCLUSIONS
We offer this program as a training model that can prepare residents for the challenges of a changing marketplace for occupational health and safety services.
Meyer
J D
JD
Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown 26506-9190, USA.
Becker
P E
PE
Stockdale
T
T
Ducatman
A M
AM
D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000193:education*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014903:West Virginia