 |
 |
Hello Jane I understand that the Brompton run a number of different courses and as far as I am aware there is a practice element incorporated into the spirometry course, but not the occupational asthma course perhaps that is the one you taught on, Jane. I know Magda Wheatley who works for Prof Paul Cullinan is a subscriber to the list I am sure Magda will clarify. Anne Anne Harriss Course Director LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY On 14/06/2013 12:00, "JANE COOMBS" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hi > > Hilary and I worked together as SEQOHS assessors and this question was asked > before - in response I wrote to some learned people to ask advice but no > satisfactory reply received. I don't think there is a correct answer for > frequency of Spirometry training as there is no guidance that I am aware of > (happy to be corrected though). This is true of many procedures in OH - such > as hand arm vibration assessment, management referrals, even doing a fork lift > truck medical. I believe OH services should draft their own guidance based on > audit of practice, customer feedback, reviews, frequency of use and severity > of risk of harm to health (isocyanates and flour dust are among the top five > that cause occupational asthma). > > I was given Spirometry training by Microlab and Vitalograph and both were > excellent but my real skills developed after by constant use and dealing with > issues arising. I have also had training from Paul Cullinan (sigh!) and been > invited to talk on the course at the Brompton when I was Group OH Manager for > Premier Foods (Hovis/flour dust). Whilst I agree that the course was > brilliant there was no practical element to the day and it was all > theory/discussion. So I think we have to be careful when we recommend a > course as there are so many to chose from and attendance at training does not > necessarily mean competency. > > In my career I have observed and assessed OH practitioners who have attended > courses but they have never ever touched a spirometer or those who have the > certificate but have not linked the training they have had to actual practice > - sadly they think they are competent but make fundamental clinical mistakes > which would make the procedure invalid for legal purposes. And racking my > brains for other examples, I seem to remember that someone on the list posted > a comment about being on a HAVs course and not actually done any clinical > work? This is where issues arise and not just in spirometry. I understand > that you can train to be a nurse now via the Open University, what's that > about? > > So I understand why the question is asked but really the question is how does > a practitioner know if they are competent in any particular OH skill? I > thought I was competent when I did my first Spirometry course and had the > certificate to prove it - dealing with patients and their techniques for > blowing into that blessed tube and subsequent readings added a whole new > dimension. > > I believe we need to move away from prescriptive training regimes and base OH > practitioner competency on observed/monitored outcomes which is what SEQOHS > advocates. If we don't perform as expected then more frequent training may be > required. I believe that annual (monthly, 3 yearly etc) training regimes are > a safety blanket approach to clinical supervision and the start of the journey > to competency rather than the end. > > Regards > > Jane > > > > > Jane Coombs MSc RGN CMIOSH OHNC DMS > Director Working Well Solutions Ltd > Mobile: 07710 080947 > Office: 02392 365909 > email: [log in to unmask] > <mailto:[log in to unmask]> > Website: www.working-well-solutions.com > <http://www.working-well-solutions.com> > Follow us on Twitter <https://twitter.com/#%21/WWSOccHealth> > Occupational Health and SafetyAdvice in a Changing World > > > > Company Registered in England and Wales no 7387475 > > > > > Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 07:05:04 +0100 > From: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [OCC-HEALTH] Spirometry > To: [log in to unmask] > > Thanks for that info, Hilary. I wonder if there is a time interval that is > expected by SEQOHS assessors between refreshers,, eg every 3 or 5 years. I > know that for Immunisation Updates the HPA recommends annual updates , but > this is because the drug/vaccination regimes change and updates are needed > for anaphylaxis and CPR...... > > Cheers > Diane Romano-Woodward > > > > > > > > > > > ******************************** Please remove this footer before replying. > OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html > CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH > ******************************** Please remove this footer before replying. > OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html > CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH > > > ******************************** Please remove this footer before replying. > > OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html > > CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH ******************************** Please remove this footer before replying. OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH