The COVID-19 Impact in Hospital Healthcare Workers: Development of an Occupational Health Risk Management Program

As with the SARS-CoV-1 outbreak in 2003–2004 and the MERS outbreak in 2012, there were early reports of frequent transmission to healthcare workers (HCW) in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Our hospital center identified its first COVID-19 confirmed case on March 9, 2020, in a 6-day hospitalized patient. The first confirmed COVID-19 case in a HCW happened 3 days later, in a nurse with a probable epidemiological link related to the first confirmed patient. Our study’s first objective is to describe and characterize the impact of the first 3 months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte (CHULN). Our second objective is to report the performance of the CHULN Occupational Health Department (OHD) and the impact of the pandemic on CHULN HCW and its adaptation across national, regional, and institutional epidemiological evolution. Over the first 3 months, 2,152 HCW were screened (which represent 29.8% of the total HCW population), grouped in 100 separate identifiable clusters, each one ranging from 2 to 98 HCW. The most prevalent profession screened were nurses (n = 800; 37.2%) followed by doctors (n = 634; 29.5%). The main source of potential infection and cluster generating screening procedures was co-worker related (n = 1,216; 56.5%). A patient source or a combined patient co-worker source was only accountable for 559 (26%) and 43 (2%) of cases, respectively. Our preliminary results demonstrate a lower infection rate among HCW than the ones commonly found in the literature. The main source of infection seemed to be co-worker related rather than patient related. New preventive strategies would have to be implemented in order to control SARS-CoV-2 spread.

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Eye Health, COVID-19, and the Occupational Health Professional: Round Table

Workplace Health & Safety ◽

10.1177/21650799211022990 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 69 (8) ◽

pp. 352-358

Author(s):

Susan Gallagher ◽

Jay Clasing ◽

Edward Hall ◽

Stephanie Hammond ◽

Gayle Howard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Occupational Health ◽

Health Professional ◽

Screen Time ◽

Occupational Injury ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Round Table ◽

Round Table Discussion ◽

Eye Health ◽

The Impact ◽

Health Risk Management

Background: Eye health has garnered increased attention since the COVID-19 pandemic. This Round Table explored the impact mask wearing, delays in eye examinations, and increased screen time have on vision and ultimately the worker. Methods: Leading experts in the areas of occupational health, risk management, eye health, and communication were identified and invited to participate in a Round Table discussion. Questions posed to experts were based on literature that addressed eye health, such as mask wearing, communication and managing expectations when accessing professional eye health appointments, and increased screen time. Findings: Experts agreed that eye health considerations must be in place. These considerations should address not only clinical care of the patient but ways to protect workers from occupational injury associated with the eye. Conclusion/Application to practice: The occupational health professional is a key resource for assessment and training that pertains to eye health.

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FEATURES OF ACCOUNTING AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

International scientific journal Internauka Series Economical Sciences ◽

10.25313/2520-2294-2021-12-7813 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ruslan Skrynkovskyy ◽

◽

Oleh Kramar ◽

Khrystyna Zamula ◽

Vasyl Khmyz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Management Program ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Development Trends ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

Risk Management Program ◽

Industry Affiliation ◽

Business Entities ◽

Entrepreneurial Activities ◽

The Impact

The article reveals the features of accounting and analytical support for entrepreneurial risk management. It was found that entrepreneurial risk is a certain act as a result of which the business entity may suffer losses. It is proved that entrepreneurial risks should be classified according to the specifics of origin, the specifics of the legal settlement, the specifics of industry affiliation, the specifics of the consequences, the specifics of the duration of the impact of entrepreneurial risk, the specifics of the expression of will, the specifics of the form, the specifics of the level of typicality, the specifics of the level of validity, the specifics of the possibility of assessing and resolving the impact, the specifics of the possibility of insuring entrepreneurial risks, the specifics of the occurrence of entrepreneurial risks by sources of origin, the specifics of the scale of the impact, the specifics of the level of losses and the specifics of character. It is established that the process of entrepreneurial risk management is the process of managing the activities of the business entity as a whole and its individual parts, and takes into account the management of not only existing risks but also potential entrepreneurial risks in space and time, that may occur in the future during entrepreneurial activities. It is determined that the process of entrepreneurial risk management should take into account the stage of preparation and implementation of appropriate measures to reduce the risk as a result of making erroneous decisions by business entities, the stage of reducing the impact of possible negative consequences that may occur, especially, if the entity operates in unexpected changes and alarming development trends, as well the stage of development and implementation of the Declaration on Risk Management and the Risk Management Program. It is established that the important information on which it is possible to estimate possibility of occurrence of entrepreneurial risks, is the accounting reporting. In the perspective of further research, it is recommended to study entrepreneurial risks in Ukraine in the context of such aspects as causes, consequences and management.

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A Flood Risk Management Program of Wadi Baysh Dam on the Downstream Area: An Integration of Hydrologic and Hydraulic Models, Jizan Region, KSA

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12031069 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 1069 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mazen M. Abu-Abdullah ◽

Ahmed M. Youssef ◽

Norbert H. Maerz ◽

Emad Abu-AlFadail ◽

Hasan M. Al-Harbi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Management Program ◽

Flood Risk Management ◽

Dam Failure ◽

Rainfall Events ◽

Risk Management Program ◽

Dam Site ◽

The Impact ◽

Sea Coast

For public safety, especially for people who dwell in the valley that is located downstream of a dam site, as well as the protection of economic and environmental resources, risk management programs are urgently required all over the world. Despite the high safety standards of dams because of improved engineering and excellent construction in recent times, a zero-risk guarantee is not possible, and accidents can happen, triggered by natural hazards, human actions, or just because the dam is aging. In addition to that is the impact of potential climate change, which may not have been taken into account in the original design. A flood risk management program, which is essential for protecting downstream dam areas, is required. Part of this program is to prepare an inundation map to simulate the impact of dam failure on the downstream areas. The Baysh dam has crucial importance both to protect the downstream areas against flooding, to provide drinking water to cities in the surrounding areas, and to use the excess water for irrigation of the agricultural areas located downstream of the dam. Recently, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was affected by extraordinary rainstorm events causing many problems in many different areas. One of these events happened along the basin of the Baysh dam, which raised the alarm to the decision makers and to the public to take suitable action before dam failure occurs. The current study deals with a flood risk analysis of Wadi Baysh using an integration of hydrologic and hydraulic models. A detailed field investigation of the dam site and the downstream areas down to the Red Sea coast has been undertaken. Three scenarios were applied to check the dam and the reservoir functionality; the first scenario at 100- and 200-year return period rainfall events, the second scenario according to the Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP), and the third scenario if the dam fails. Our findings indicated that the Baysh dam and reservoir at 100- and 200-year rainfall events are adequate, however, at the PMP the water will spill out from the spillway at ~8900 m3/s causing flooding to the downstream areas; thus, a well-designed channel along the downstream wadi portion up to the Red Sea coast is required. However, at dam failure, the inundation model indicated that a vast area of the section downstream of the dam will be utterly devastated, causing a significant loss of lives and destruction of urban areas and agricultural lands. Eventually, an effective warning system and flood hazard management system are imperative.

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PES18 THE IMPACT OF THE SYSTEM TO MANAGE ACCUTANERELATED TERATOGENICITYTM (SMARTTM) RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ON ISOTRETINOIN PRESCRIBING TRENDS

Value in Health ◽

10.1016/s1098-3015(10)62198-5 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 263

Author(s):

AB Mendelsohn ◽

LA Governale

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Management Program ◽

Prescribing Trends ◽

Risk Management Program ◽

The Impact

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FDA approvals of generic drugs: Impact on the diversion of opioid analgesics with a potential for abuse

Journal of Opioid Management ◽

10.5055/jom.2009.0009 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 81 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

James A. Inciardi, PhD ◽

Hilary L. Surratt, PhD ◽

Yamilka Stivers, BA ◽

Theodore J. Cicero, PhD

Keyword(s):

Generic Drugs ◽

Opioid Analgesics ◽

The United States ◽

National Sample ◽

Management Program ◽

Regulatory Agencies ◽

Transdermal Patch ◽

Risk Management Program ◽

System Risk ◽

The Impact

Generic drugs account for half of all prescription drug purchases in the United States. Although they are bioequivalent to their branded counterparts, they are typically sold at substantial discounts from the branded price. Given this, the purpose of this analysis is to examine the impact of the introduction of generic forms of selected opioids on their diversion to the illicit marketplace. The analgesics in this analysis include oxycodone ER (extended release), and the fentanyl transdermal patch. The data were collected through a postmarketing surveillance initiative supported by the Researched Abuse Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS®) System risk management program, gathered on a quarterly basis from a national sample of police and regulatory agencies. The results indicate that with oxycodone ER and the fentanyl transdermal patch, the diversion of their generic formulations occurs less often than that of the branded products, and that the introduction of the generic formulations did not significantly increase the overall levels of diversion during the period covered by this analysis. Although diversion did not increase in the short-term, the need for longer term monitoring appears warranted.

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Workplace Violence in Healthcare: A Single-Center Study on Causes, Consequences and Prevention Strategies

Acta Médica Portuguesa ◽

10.20344/amp.11465 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 31

Author(s):

Helena Sofia Antão ◽

Ema Sacadura-Leite ◽

Maria João Manzano ◽

Sónia Pinote ◽

Rui Relvas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Occupational Health ◽

Police Officers ◽

Workplace Violence ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Public Hospital ◽

Health Department ◽

Single Center ◽

Notification Rate ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significance Level

Introduction: Workplace violence is one of the main risk factors in the professional world. Healthcare workers are at higher risk when compared to other sectors. Our study aimed to characterize physical and verbal violence in a public hospital and to define occupational health prevention and surveillance strategies.Material and Methods: Single center observational cross-sectional study, carried amongst healthcare workers in a public hospital in Lisbon. A qualitative survey was carried out through six in-depth interviews. A quantitative survey was carried through questionnaires delivered to 32 workers. A significance level of 5% was accepted in the assessment of statistical differences. The Mann-Whitney test and the Fisher’s exact test were used to calculate p values.Results: The main results are: (1) 41 violence incidents were reported in the quantitative phase; (2) 5/21 [23.81%] victims notified the incident to the occupational health department; (3) 18/21 [85.71%] victims reported a permanent state of hypervigilance; (4) 22/28 [78.57%] participants self-reported poor or no familiarity with internal reporting procedures; (5) 24/28 [85.71%] participants believed it is possible to minimize workplace violence.Discussion: Workplace violence is favored by unrestricted access to working areas, absence of security guards and police officers or scarce intervention. The low notification rate contributes to organizational lack of action. The state of hypervigilance reported in our study reflects the negative effects of threatening occupational stressors on mental health.Conclusion: Our results show that workplace violence is a relevant risk factor that significantly impacts workers’ health in a noxious manner, deserving a tailored occupational health approach whose priority areas and strategies have been determined.

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Utility of Dual Skin Tests to Evaluate Tuberculin Skin Test Reactions of 10 to 14 mm in Healthcare Workers

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/502143 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 24 (11) ◽

pp. 821-824 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Bryan J. Marsh ◽

Joshua San Vicente ◽

C. Fordham von Reyn

Keyword(s):

Occupational Health ◽

Skin Test ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Medical Center ◽

Skin Testing ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Health Department ◽

The United States ◽

Skin Tests

AbstractObjective:To define the utility of 10- to 14-mm reactions to a Mycobacterium tuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test for healthcare workers (HCWs).Design:Blinded dual skin testing, using PPD and M. avium sensitin, of HCWs at a single medical center who had a 10-to 14-mm reaction to PPD when tested by personnel from the Occupational Health Department as part of routine annual screening.Setting:A single tertiary-care academic medical center.Participants:Employees of the medical center who underwent routine annual PPD screening and were identified by the Occupational Health Department as having a reaction of 10 to 14 mm to PPD.Results:Nineteen employees were identified as candidates and 11 underwent dual skin testing. Only 4 (36%) had repeat results for PPD in the 10- to 14-mm range, whether read by Occupational Health Department personnel or study investigators. For only 5 (45%) of the subjects did the Occupational Health Department personnel and study investigators concur (± 3 mm) on the size of the PPD reaction. Two of the 4 subjects with reactions of 10 to 14 mm as measured by the study investigators were M. avium sensitin dominant, 1 was PPD dominant, and 1 was nondominant.Conclusion:A reaction of 10 to 14 mm to PPD should not be used as an indication for the treatment of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection in healthy HCWs born in the United States with no known exposure to TB.

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The Prevalence and Underreporting of Needlestick Injuries among Dental Healthcare Workers in Pakistan: A Systematic Review

International Journal of Dentistry ◽

10.1155/2018/9609038 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Mehak Pervaiz ◽

Ruth Gilbert ◽

Nasreen Ali

Keyword(s):

Occupational Health ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Health Department ◽

Review Literature ◽

Needlestick Injuries ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Reporting Rates ◽

Actual Prevalence

Needlestick injuries (NSIs) are a major occupational health problem among dental healthcare workers (HCWs) in Pakistan, which places them at a significant risk of acquiring blood-borne infections. However, not all NSIs are reported, leading to an underestimation of the actual prevalence. The harmful impacts of NSIs on the healthcare delivery necessitate an urgent need to measure its actual prevalence.Objectives. The aim of this study was to review literature to estimate the prevalence and reporting rates of NSIs among dental-HCWs in Pakistan.Methods. 713 potentially relevant citations were identified by electronic databases and hand searching of articles. Nine primary studies were subsequently identified to be included in the review.Results. The results of the included studies indicate that the prevalence of NSIs among Pakistani dental-HCWs was between 30% and 73%. The rate of reporting of NSIs was between 15% and 76%, and the most common reason was found to be the lack of awareness regarding the reporting system, or of the need to report NSIs.Conclusion. It is evident from the review of the included studies that there is a significantly high prevalence and a low rate of reporting of NSIs among dental-HCWs in Pakistan, suggesting the need to setup an occupational health department in dental settings, for preventing, managing, recording, and monitoring NSIs.

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