Ehsan Rafeemanesh’s Post

Heartbreaking to read. Employers with these risks need to understand if their control measures are working - health surveillance helps to identify tell tale symptoms that could indicate a breach in control - and health surveillance does not need to be expensive. We need to stop people from Developing life limiting diseases as a result of their work!

An interesting question posed to me while lecturing some subspecialist medical doctor in occupational medicine, how should doctors assess the fitness of intersex persons when the protocols and assessments are based on either born male or born female. Why this is relevant is because the Gaussian distribution curves of data for individuals within specific health tests, e.g. lung function, etc., and what is accepted as fit or healthy does not perfectly align between the sexes. What may be an acceptable measure for a female may be a medical concern for a male. This same is true based on age, height and weight; tall people are not judged by the same health stick as short people. There is no value judgment, just a question of whether they can perform safely for themselves, and for others. It often comes down to a case by case basis management question - i.e. Murdoch in the insulin dependent diabetic firefighter landmark case. Sensitivity is required, along with the upholding of their Hippocrates Oath - do no harm. Interesting thought, I'm sure we will eventually get case law on the issue.

As ever helpful expert (and practical) insight into vibration management from Roger!

🌟 Advancing Occupational Health: A Feasibility Study for Developing an Occupational Exposure-Control Intelligence System in Great Britain🌟 We are pleased to share insights from our latest study on the development of an Occupational Exposure Control Intelligence System (OccECIS). For a detailed analysis and to explore the findings, please refer to our comprehensive report: Access the full report here: https://lnkd.in/enGiG3fR Key Objectives of an Occupational Exposure Control Intelligence System 💻 Data-Driven Insights: A system could derive estimates of exposure intensity and prevalence, as well as data on the use of control measures, which can subsequently be used by HSE and other stakeholders. 🛑 Hazard Identification: system could identify and prioritise hazards, sectors, and occupations of concern, allowing for targeted interventions and resource allocation. 👀 Monitoring and Evaluation: A system would facilitate continuous monitoring of intervention effectiveness over time, thereby helping to reduce the future burden of work-related respiratory diseases. The successful implementation of OccECIS relies on collaboration and contributions from across the industry. We believe that developing a prototype system has the potential to transform occupational health practices. #OccupationalHealth #DataDrivenDecisions #HealthAndSafety #Research #AcademicInsights

The COPM & COPD A recent scoping review published in the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy examined the impact of occupational therapy interventions for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The authors found that 7/9 studies reviewed reported significant improvements in occupational performance for those who participated in occupational therapy interventions. The COPM was used as the primary measure of occupational performance in 3 of the 9 studies with only one of these demonstrating significant results. The authors suggest this may be related to study methodology (i.e. readministering the COPM within 7 days may not be sufficient to capture change), and the impact of the therapist’s interviewing skills and/or therapeutic relationship with the client. Goubeau G, Mandigout S, Sombardier T, Borel B. Occupational Therapy for Improving Occupational Performance in COPD Patients: A Scoping Review. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2023;90(4):353-362. doi:10.1177/00084174221148037 https://lnkd.in/eSRgQf_K

Would you like to attract new companies and grow your occupational medicine program? Are you mostly doing drug screens and simply "taking what you can get" for occ med services? Dr. John Koehler grew an urgent care chain from zero to 56 clinics by using occ med services as his main growth lever. By the time he sold the practice, they were working with more than 10,000 clients. Join us on June 20 for "How To Sell Your Occ Med Services" and learn his proven strategies for positioning yourself as a valuable partner for businesses. You'll discover how to identify and target the right clients, showcase the true impact your services have on their bottom line, and close the deal with confidence. Walk away with a clear roadmap to building strong, long-term relationships with employers and growing your occupational medicine program. Registration link in the comments 👇

Every corporate / industry having a vision for #EmployeeWellness is a blessing for society. Connect with #ProMed Occupational Health Centre for authentic Medical Tests in your #industry and #corporate #completemedicalcheckup #audiometry #spirometry #pathology

JOEM CME Paper Long COVID and Occupational Medicine Practice Howard, John MD; Cloeren, Marianne MD, MPH, FACOEM, FACP; Vanichkachorn, Greg MD, MPH Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 66(1):p 1-5, January 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002961 Learning Objectives After completing this enduring educational activity, the learner will be better able to: Outline and discuss back to work options for workers with long COVID while stressing the variations in symptoms and length of recovery for these patients Strategize on best practices for handling the return to work of long COVID patients and the impact on workload Design a back to work plan to assist employers and employees with creating safe and resourceful work environment for long COVID workers return to work https://lnkd.in/eV7xFqU9 #JOEM #Covid-19 #covid-19research #longcovid

"Reinforcing the Theoretical Framework of Occupational Medicine" Every scientific field relies on theory and methodology. Theory provides direction and a framework comprising explanatory principles about a specific domain. In occupational medicine, theory focuses on how work impacts human health, while methods prevent, diagnose, and treat work-related illnesses. Despite considerable progress over the years, the future of occupational medicine depends on the continuous reinforcement of its theoretical base. A well-established theoretical foundation does not merely define the scope of practice; it spurs methodological innovation and strengthens legitimacy within the broader medical community. Currently, occupational medicine mainly draws upon theories from epidemiology, toxicology, ergonomics, and health policy. These explain how work affects health, inform interventions, and identify emerging risks. However, as workplaces and workforces evolve, theories must also adapt. New models are essential to evaluate new technologies, adapt to an aging workforce, understand organizational risks, and tackle psychosocial challenges. Reinforced theory also empowers expertise. Equipped with robust principles to guide fitness-for-duty evaluations, disability assessments, and case management, occupational physicians can better manage these growing challenges. This expertise becomes increasingly vital with the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions concurrent with the aging workforce. Incorporating leadership and policy theories further elevates occupational medicine practitioners. With such tools, they can proactively champion worker health and safety through workplace policies, legislation, and beyond. Ultimately, progress and maturation for any applied specialty rely on innovating its intellectual base over time. Reinforcing occupational medicine theoretical framework secures its niche in protecting worker well-being with the ever-changing nature of work. Robust foundations ensure the field's vitality for years ahead. #occupationalmedicine #futureofwork #scientificprogrees #occupationalhealth