Association of Occupational
Health Professionals in Healthcare released its 2013-15 Public Policy
Statement, targeting safety and health concerns in healthcare.
AOHP identified the
following areas of focus to address during the next 2 years:
- Overall healthcare worker safety, health and well-being, including eliminating occupational hazards and raising awareness of potential interactions between patient and worker health and safety activities.
- Occupational health professional development through education, leadership development and professional support.
- Building partnerships with stakeholders such as The Joint Commission’s Nursing Advisory Council, CDC, NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda’s Healthcare and Social Assistance Sector, and other agencies and associations.
Additionally, AOHP plans to
pursue five safety and health initiatives:
1.
Decrease bloodborne pathogen exposure by sharps
injuries in healthcare. AOHP advocates a comprehensive approach to this issue,
including development of safer medical devices, injury prevention teams,
administrative controls and healthcare worker education.
2.
Support efforts
to provide free influenza vaccines
to healthcare workers and promote further research regarding influenza
transmission and vaccination.
3.
Support
regulations, legislation, education, training, research and prevention
activities to promote safer patient handling.
4.
Advocate for
increased research, training and education related to respiratory protection from tuberculosis and other airborne
respiratory transmissible diseases.
5.
Decrease workplace violence by encouraging
healthcare organizations to protect patients, employees and visitors by
providing facility-specific violence prevention programs. Continue research
regarding workplace violence prevention.