A Descriptive Study of Hospital-Based Occupational Health Services for Businesses
Flanigan, Carolyn Brown
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/71073
Description
Title
A Descriptive Study of Hospital-Based Occupational Health Services for Businesses
Author(s)
Flanigan, Carolyn Brown
Issue Date
1987
Department of Study
Health and Safety Studies
Discipline
Health and Safety Studies
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Health Sciences, Health Care Management
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to gather detailed program information about hospital-based occupational health services (OHS) for businesses. The 226 hospitals that made up the population for the study had indicated on a 1984 American Hospital Association (AHA) survey that they offered an OHS to businesses. In November, 1985, a questionnaire was sent to these 226 hospitals, with a response rate of 56.6%.
Fifteen of the responding hospitals indicated in the questionnaire that they did not offer occupational health services to businesses. These hospitals and 20% of the nonresponding hospitals were contacted by a telephone survey, in November, 1986, to determine the status of their OHS.
Data collected from the study involved every major component of hospital-based OHS for businesses: program description, staffing, services offered, program development, program promotion, record keeping, business clients, financial information, medical staff involvement, sales, and program problems.
Although many programs offered services to both hospital employees and businesses (63.7%), the OHS was distinct from the hospital Employee Health Service (EHS) for 63.4% and the EHS was not directly involved in the development of the OHS for 79.9%. Service categories offered by most OHS were ancillary, health promotion, educational, and clinical; some offered consultative and industrial services; and few offered administrative services.
The majority of hospitals did not have an occupational health trained program director (60.2%) or an Occupational Health Department (56.6%). Many programs did not employ an occupational health physician (55.9%) or an occupational health nurse (40.5%). A significant percentage (83.8%) did not have a computerized recording keeping system for the OHS. The telephone survey results showed that programs ended because of lack of interest and support of businesses, medical staff, and the hospital administration.
The survey findings indicate that many components of hospital-based occupational health services are weak and do not meet standards set by NIOSH or the needs of businesses. Resources must be developed to assist hospitals in developing or revising their OHS, and further research is needed to determine the extent and makeup of these programs.
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