If you would have asked me this a few years ago then my answer would have been an absolute no, not up for discussion.
I may have mellowed somewhat in recent years and I am open to the possibility of us doing more. I don't agree with a lot of what is being offered but whole heartedly agree that if anyone has any health concern they can attend OH for if nothing else an opinion of what they should do next, go to their GP, walk in clinic or A&E (or as my colleagues keep telling me AED but in my mind this is a gadget you attach poorly patients to) or in some cases give immediate assistance.
I have been wondering if maybe when we tore out the treatment rooms and gave birth to the new generation of OH services and whether or not we threw the baby out with the bath water. Given the current climate, how we constantly struggle for our existence where in most cases they don't want us but have to have us could we somehow develop our roles more closely with primary care and consider developing/ offering additional services. A lot of us do this now with counselling, EAP's, physiotherapy, rehabilitation programmes etc., so could/would/should we go the next step and align more closely with primary care?
Please note I am only talking about minor treatments such as dressings, suture removals, etc. that could benefit the employee and employer, certainly not smears or minor surgical procedures.
An interesting point for debate, professional competency, funding, how we develop closer liaison with the primary care givers are just a few off a long list.
Cheers
Frank
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tuwepo Chiwi
Sent: 27 February 2011 09:36
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [OCC-HEALTH] Minor Illness Clinic in OH department
Dear All,
A new OHD manager in a certain private company has opened a minor illness clinic, with the aim of reducing the need and incivenience of seeking unnecessary GP appointments for initial assessment and treatment of minor illnesses, or a flare up of an existing health problem e.g. asthma. She has no OH background, but has many years of experience working in general practice. Some of the problems she offers to treat are ingrown toe nails, back/neck pain, shingles/cold sores, mastitis, UTI, emergency contraception, and many more, and even proposed to do Pap smears.
Is this kind of service appropriate for the OHD, which is supposed to be pro-active rather than reactive? I understand where she comes from as private companies are more about keeping employees at work and producing results, but is this what OHD's should be about?
Tuwepo
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