A1238 Computerized decision support system for workers’ health surveillance in the ambulance sector

Thursday, March 22, 2012
Ground Floor (Cancun Center)
Marie-christine J Plat, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, University Of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Monique Frings-Dressen, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Judith Sluiter, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Handouts
  • Poster MJ Plat ambulance ICOH 2012 def_upload.pdf (97.4 kB)
    • Introduction
    The objective was to develop a national computerized decision support system for workers’ health surveillance (WHS) of ambulance personnel. The main goal of the system is to support the execution of WHS and to provide an overview of the interventions the occupational physician can initiate if adverse health requirements are found.

    Methods
    WHS for ambulance personnel was developed based on their occupational health requirements. Tools for WHS were questionnaires for workers, score sheets and testing protocols for (assistant) physicians and allied health professionals. A guideline with evidence-based interventions to be used in the individual worker by the occupational physician was also developed as input for the system. Tools were first developed on paper. Afterwards tools were converted into the computerized decision support system together with an IT developer. Thereafter, a usability check for the interface of the system was carried out with stakeholders.

    Results
    All involved professionals and workers can log in, in their tailored part of the computerized decision support system. Screeners for psychological health requirements can be completed online by workers. The test results for the physical health requirements can be recorded in the system by the assistant physician and allied health professionals. After completing WHS the occupational physician can log in and an overview of the results per worker is shown. Appropriate interventions are automatically generated by the clinical algorithm of the system. The occupational physician can choose to initiate the intervention and is asked to report whether the intervention is initiated.

    Discussion
    By means of this tool a monitoring system of workers’ health arises, which can be used by occupational physicians and the ambulance sector. With the computerized decision support system the sector can evaluate the occupational health policy for ambulance personnel and whether it results in advanced quality of care for workers.

    See more of: Job-specific Workers health Surveillance
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