Ralph Stuart,
Thanks for the insightful note.
I recently retired from Argonne National Laboratory (>3,000 employees) which is about 25 miles west of Chicago.

Each Argonne employee periodically (and when job responsibilities change) completes an electronic "Job Hazard Questionnaire" that is used primarily for:

1.  Identifying required (by regulation or Argonne senior management) and recommended (good practice, e.g. "office safety") ES&H training, much of which is now available from an employee's desktop computer.

2.  Allowing the Medical Director to automatically identify the occupational medicine certifications/approvals (e.g., hearing acuity, pre-laser-use retinal examinations, color perception, pre-respirator use evaluation, lifting/carrying capability), and occupational medicine surveillance and its frequency (e.g., blood lead levels, hearing acuity, lung X-rays, evaluations suitable for radiation workers, etc), thus allowing targeted application of limited occupational medicine support resources.  

If you would like to learn more about Argonne's program [that incorporates occupational information into EHRs) you may contact the Medical Director, Jamie Stalker, via e-mail or phone using the "Directory" tool (upper right corner) available at Argonne's home page at http://www.anl.gov/

David Haugen
Retired in Illinois

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From: "Ralph Stuart" <rstuartcih**At_Symbol_Here**ME.COM>
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 9:58:19 AM
Subject: [DCHAS-L] NIOSH eNews FLASH: Inclusion of Industry & Occupation in Electronic Health Records

NIOSH eNews FLASH

December 2012

NIOSH eNews FLASH

Tis the Season-for Your Voice to be Heard!

Provide comment on the inclusion of Industry & Occupation in EHR

Undoubtedly, we as workers spend more than half of our waking hours at work. Our health can affect our ability to work safely and productively, and in turn, our jobs can affect our health. Yet information about our work is not routinely captured in our medical records. When industry and occupation (I/O) data are readily available in electronic health records (EHRs), healthcare providers have the critical information to guide the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of health conditions, as well as help prevent recurrence of work-related and non-work-related conditions, thereby improving the health of the working population.

As part of an effort to ensure information collected in electronic health records has meaningful use, NIOSH supports including industry and occupation information as necessary fields in EHR software. Research has shown occupation to be a predictor of health, and including I/O could have significant impact on the overall health and well-being of patients. Currently, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT Policy Committee is requesting public comment on Stage 3 of the Meaningful Use criteria.

Submit a comment today on the Committee's draft recommendation to make patient Industry and Occupation information criteria for a certified electronic health record (you must REFERENCE SGRP 104 in any comment about I/O), and join NIOSH in an effort to improve the Nation's health and the overall well-being of every worker.

EHRs that include a patient's industry and occupation information can improve clinical diagnosis, disease management, and prevention of injuries and illnesses; enable public health agencies to track and prevent causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States; and assist patients and their families in promoting their health and preventing disease.

Submit Comment

The deadline to submit comment is 11:59p.m. January 14, 2013.