Occupational Health Management Archives – June 1, 2009
June 1, 2009
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Who is the single best person to address H1N1 influenza? You are
Employees trust you to help them when they are sick, hurt, or worried about anything from chemical exposure to a back injury that keeps them out of work. For this reason, "the occupational health nurse is the best person in the company to address the H1N1 health issue," says Kay N. Campbell, EdD, RN-C, COHN-S, FAAOHN, president of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses. -
Are workers panicked? Put these facts in their hands
What is the best way to communicate with employees during the H1N1 crisis? Every way. -
Metabolic syndrome costs more than you think
Of a cohort group of 5,455, 21% of employees participating in Intel Corp.'s "Health for Life 3-Step Wellness Check" were moved from high risk to low/moderate risk during the program's first year. -
Programs have impressive participation
Weight management and other components of metabolic syndrome are the target of many wellness programs at Warrenville, IL-based Navistar. -
Get serious about soliciting safety concerns of workers
In order to be recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as a Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) star site, companies must demonstrate a high degree of employee involvement in safety. According to OSHA, VPP companies achieve average injury rates 50% below the Bureau of Labor Statistics average. -
For back pain, some treatments underused
People with back pain use a lot of medical treatments, but often not the ones with the strongest evidence of effectiveness, according to a study in the April 1 issue of Spine. -
Pain meds can be fatal after spinal fusion surgery
Pain medications are involved in more than 20% of deaths occurring in the years after spinal fusion surgery for low back pain, reports a study in the April 1 issue of Spine. -
Web site launches weather/health warnings
The new web site MediClim.com gives warnings via custom e-mail alerts when chronic health problems are likely to be aggravated by local weather conditions. The service targets people who suffer from problems such as migraines, asthma, arthritis, diabetes, and heart conditions. -
Higher costs seen for unhealthy behaviors
A large study of members of the Arkansas State and Public School Employees Health Plan finds that health care costs are higher for those who report they are obese, are smokers, or are physically inactive. All three behaviors are risk factors for medical conditions including heart disease and diabetes. -
Chronically ill who smoke need added help to quit
Individuals with serious illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, make up a disproportionately high segment of current smokers and are also among the most addicted to tobacco use. Despite their strong addiction, more than one-third of these individuals are likely to give up smoking and remain smoke-free for at least six months if they receive a combination of smoking cessation medications and are allowed to continue taking these medications for a longer period of time, researchers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) report. -
My QuitLine iPhone can help smokers quit
Smokers can turn to their iPhones to help them quit smoking with evidence-based treatment through a free application downloadable from iPhone or iTunes. The application links users to the National Cancer Institute's quitline service where they speak to a live quitline coach or use live text to get advice on quitting. -
Business group on health addresses health disparities
The National Business Group on Health, a Washington, DC-based non-profit association of more than 300 large U.S. employers, has released an Issue Brief, "Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: A Business Case Update for Employers."