title: Evaluation of the patient with an exposure-related disease: the occupational and environmental history.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the process of taking an occupational and environmental history has remained largely the same, the context in which it is done has changed dramatically over recent years. This review examines the role of the occupational and environmental history in the context of the changing nature of medical practice and discusses methods for evaluating patients with contemporary exposure-related respiratory illnesses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surveillance for occupational lung disease using mnemonic devices, screening questions and the use of structured questionnaires can significantly increase the likelihood and accuracy of detection. Electronic health records likewise can be adapted to include the most important elements of the occupational and environmental history.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The emergence of new technologies and industries will lead to respiratory diseases in novel occupational and environmental contexts. Using the methods described herein can make detecting these diseases easier and less time-consuming.
authors.affiliation: aDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine bDivision of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papali
authors.forename: Stella E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hines
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires