What is occupational preventive medicine?
Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) is a board-certified specialty under Preventive Medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of work-related injuries and illnesses. OEM is the medical specialty ranked among the highest in satisfaction and lowest in professional burnout.
What is included in medical surveillance?
Medical surveillance is the systematic assessment of employees exposed or potentially exposed to occupational hazards. This assessment monitors individuals for adverse health effects and determines the effectiveness of exposure prevention strategies.
What are the main dangers in the operating room?
Physical injuries, including cuts, pricks, electrical shocks, burns and falls are some of the most common hazards in operating rooms. A surgical team member could accidentally cut himself with a scalpel during surgery, or he could shock or burn himself using surgical equipment.
What professional harmful factors affect surgeons?
They are exposed to a number of occupational hazards in their professional work. These hazards include sharp injuries, blood borne pathogens, latex allergy, laser plumes, hazardous chemicals, anesthetic gases, equipment hazards, static postures, and job related stressors.
What are the 3 components of preventive medicine?
The distinctive components of preventive medicine include:
- Biostatistics and the application of biostatistical principles and methodology.
- Epidemiology and its application to population-based medicine and research.
What is OHS medical surveillance?
The Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 (OHS Act) defines medical surveillance as a planned programme or periodic examination, which may include clinical examinations, biological monitoring or medical tests of employees by an occupational health practitioner or, in prescribed cases, by an occupational …
What is occupational medical surveillance?
Occupational health surveillance is the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of exposure and health data on groups of workers for the purpose of preventing illness and injury.
What are occupational hazards in OT?
Classification According to their nature 1. Physical Hazards and Accident Hazards 2. Chemical Hazards 3. Biological Hazards /infectious agent 4. Electrical Hazards 5.
What is the most frequent cause of injury in the operating room?
Common Surgical Errors Unnecessary or inappropriate surgeries. Anesthesia mistakes, such as using too much or not being mindful of a patient’s allergies. Cutting an organ or another part of the body by mistake.
What are the occupational hazards in OT?
Physical Hazards and Accident Hazards 2. Chemical Hazards 3. Biological Hazards /infectious agent 4. Electrical Hazards 5.
What is the difference between preventive medicine and occupational medicine?
Occupational medicine is the subspecialty of preventive medicine concerned with the: health, safety, and. performance of workers.
What are the two components of the medical surveillance program?
ELEMENTS OF A MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM An initial medical examination and collection of medical and occupational histories. Periodic medical examinations at regularly scheduled intervals, including specific medical screening tests when warranted.
What is the difference between screening and surveillance?
The fundamental purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment of the individual and thus has a clinical focus. The fundamental purpose of surveillance is to detect and eliminate the underlying causes such as hazards or exposures of any discovered trends and thus has a prevention focus.
What is the purpose of an occupational medical monitoring program?
The purpose for performing medical monitoring of employees is to detect physiological changes in an employee, that may be the result of exposure to hazardous levels of physical, chemical or radioactive stresses the employee may experience on the job.
What are the guidelines for occupational medical exams?
Guidelines for Occupational Medical Examinations. The Guidelines are accepted procedures of occupational medicine and are in line with the latest developments in the field. Since 1971, the Guidelines have been elaborated and kept up to date by the committee for occupational medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV).
What is the importance of Occupational Health in healthcare?
An effective occupational health program is a key aspect of preventing exposure to infectious agents and subsequent infection, as well as evaluation and management of postexposure prophylaxis and infections in health care personnel (HCP) by educating HCP regarding proper handling of sharps, early id …
What are the guidelines for Occupational Medicine in Germany?
Since 1971, the Guidelines have been elaborated and kept up to date by the committee for occupational medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV). They give the occupational health professional a framework for consistent procedures and assessment of results. In the day to day work they have proved to be a reliable aid.