Employee health surveillance in the health care industry.
This article provides an overview of the fundamental and inherent challenges in developing a health surveillance program for a health care facility. These challenges are similar to those facing individuals responsible for developing health surveillance programs for multiple industries because several "mini-industries" exist within hospitals. Hazards can range from those that are regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to those that are unregulated but pose a threat to health care workers. Occupational hazards that are unique to the health care industry also exist. A health surveillance program can be developed with focused assessment and a strong occupational safety and health program. Implementation can occur within a health care setting with the buy-in of the many stakeholders involved, especially supervisors managing departments where chemical and other hazards are present.
Hood
Joyce
J
Occupational Health Services, Cook Children's Health Care System, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Larrañaga
Michael
M
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019985:Benchmarking; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006804:Ergonomics; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects; D019981:Health Care Sector; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009314:National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016272:Occupational Health; D009785:Occupational Health Nursing; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration
D015386:Hazardous Substances