Global Program in Occupational Health Practice Linda Forst School of Public Health University of Illinois @ Chicago SCETOH/ICOH. Zagreb. October 28, 2017
No conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.
Need Need for occupational health providers in multinational companies, government health ministries, NGOs, consultants to prevent occupational illnesses and injuries Need for primary healthcare providers to recognize and manage occupational and non-occupational illnesses in the workplace Limited training opportunities o Lengthy programs available in developed countries (medical residencies, masters degrees) are expensive, hard to get accepted to o Programs may not be applicable globally differences in regulations, norms, economics o Training programs require travel o Expensive to attend o Require time away from work and family o Responsible for brain drain from developing countries
GPOHP goal and target audiences Provide OSH education to professionals who do not have easy access to Occupational Medicine, Hygiene, Safety training Healthcare workers who manage occupational injuries/illnesses and programs in the workplace and among their working patients Human Resources personnel Environmental Health managers Health and Safety officers Government health ministers NGO employees with concern about labor and environment Improve access to OSH training Completely online Maximize interaction between students & instructors
Why us? University-based School of Public Health Degree programs: MPH, MS, PhD Programs in Safety, Hygiene, Medicine Physician specialization: Occupational Medicine Continuing Education WHO Collaborating Center in Occupational/Environmental Health
Instructors Linda Forst, MD, MPH Internal & Occupational Medicine Professor, UIC Courses 1, 2A, 3 Michelle Watters, MD, PhD, MPH Environmental Engineering Occupational Medicine Federal Agency, ATSDR Courses 1, 3 David Zalk, PhD, CIH Occupational Hygiene OSH Director, Lawrence Livermore Lab Course 2B Leslie Nickels, PhD OSH Education NIOSH Commnications Courses 1, 2A, 3 Susan Buchanan, MD, MPH Family & Occupational Medicine Associate Professor, UIC Course 2A
GPOHP: Overall Description Occupational Health Track 1.Foundations of Occupational Safety, Health, and Hygiene Practice Occupational Hygiene Track 1.Foundations of Occupational Safety, Health, and Hygiene Practice 2A. Occupational Medicine & Medical Surveillance 2B. Occupational Hygiene & Risk Control 3. Management of Occupational Health Programs 3. Management of Occupational Health Programs
Course Structure Each course has 5 modules; each module lasts 2 weeks Work load ~10 hours per week, with additional readings supplied Students get grounding in content; apply activities in their work places Instructors coach and give feedback to each participant individually Group discussions via the course website provide an environment for interactive and challenging learning Extensive resource pages with web links to standards, organizations, and legislation facilitate learning and provide a sustainable learning impact
Learning Management System: BlackBoard Module 1. Introduction to Occupational Health Resources. Sept 11-24 Read 1) Introduction to GPOHP 901: Foundations in Occupational Health and Hygiene Practice 2) ILO Encyclopedia sections <- Click in Watch 1) Slideshow: Addressing injuries and illnesses at work 2) Slideshow: Hazard Identification and Characterization Do 1) Meet and Greet 2) Questions and Answers about reading 3) Create an annotated resource document 4) Ethics Assignment Discuss 1) Discussion prompts written on Discussion Board
Bb: M1 Introduction Module 1. Introduction to Occupational Health Resources (Sept 11-24) Welcome to Module 1! First, read the Introduction to the 901 course: Course Description for 901.pdf <- Click in Click on the links below to get a printable copy of the description of readings, slideshows, and activities for Module 1, the first two weeks of the course-. This document is available in both Adobe (pdf) and MS Word. M1_Description of the Section_2017.doc M1_Description of the Section_2017.pdf By the end of this section, you should be able to: 1. Find and use resources that provide information about workplace health and safety that you can apply to your workplace. 2. Characterize and discuss ethical and professional challenges in occupational health practice. 3. Work with a community of occupational health practitioners from various disciplines. All readings and activities are available below this box. Click through to find the details.
Bb. Click into Module 1. READ List of readings given From the web From textbooks (ILO Encyclopaedia Files are attached here
Bb: Click into Module 1. WATCH WATCH: Introduction to GPOHP 900 Series Introduction to 900 series slideshow.pptx (1.484 MB) Introduction to 900 series slideshow.pdf (789.284 KB) Introduction to 900 series. mp4 WATCH: Slideshow 2: Approach to addressing injuries and illnesses at work This MS Powerpoint slideshow is a review of the material covered in the first reading Introduction to GPOHP Course I. Foundations in Occupational Health and Hygiene Practice. M1.Intro OH Practice_2017.ppt (341 KB) Intro OH Practice. mp4 Slideshow 3: Hazard identification and characterization M1.Hazard_Identification_2017.pptx (310.889 KB) Hazard identification. mp4
Bb: Click into Module 1. Do Meet and Greet Post a greeting in the Discussion Board Create Annotated Resources 901.M1.Resources Exercise_Do.docx (22.643 KB) 901.M1.Resources Exercise_Do.pdf (387.428 KB) Create an annotated list with descriptions of institutions and experts who can be resources to you during and after this course. Post your resources to the Discussion Board. Download at least one other classmate's resources and compare with yours. Start a thread on the Discussion Board for Module 1 by posting observations about the similarities and differences you found. Ethics Assignment Using the reading from ILO Encyclopedia (Vol 1. Part 3 Chapter 19), in your own words post a thread to the Discussion Board on (no more than 250 words) how the code of ethics for occupational health professionals is distinct from the code of ethics for your specific discipline, the purpose of the code, and why it is important to have a specific code for occupational health practice. Read at least two other postings. Label your posting: lastname.firstname_ethics Module 1 Question & Answer 901.M1.Q&A Assignment.doc (97.5 KB) Open the attached worksheet (click on the link, above). Answer each of the questions, and save it to your computer. Name the file: yourname.901.m1.q&a. To submit your assignment, click on the assignment name above (Module 1 Question & Answer). You will be directed to a box where you can upload your completed assignment.
Assessments Activity/Assignment Points/Marks Annotated bibliography 50 Module 1 Questions & Answers (Q&A) for readings 25 Code of ethics discussion 25 Safety datasheet (SDS) assignment 50 Module 2 Q&A Safety datasheet vs other info sources 25 Terminology quiz 25 Occupational hazard datasheet assignment 50 Module 3 Occupational history assignment 25 Discussion board question 25 Workplace hazard assessment assignment 50 Module 4 Measurement & control of hazardous substances 25 Q&A Case study discussion: Paint manufacturing 25 Conduct ergonomic assessments (REBA, RULA) 50 Module 5 Q&A Ergonomics essentials 25 Case studies discussion: Ergonomics 25 Course Evaluation 18 TOTAL 518
Certification After each course completion, participants receive a course certificate A program certificate is also given if all 3 courses are completed The Occupational Medicine and Medical Surveillance course offers up to 100 ACCME Category 1 Continuing Medical Education credits to US Physicians The Occupational Hygiene and Risk Control Course (2B) uses OHTA curriculum, which can be used toward obtaining OHTA qualifications
OHTA UK Organisation Provides training materials Used in classrooms around the world Participants can take all the required courses, complete all exercises, develop portfolio, sit for examination
U.S. Continuing Medical Education Approved by the American College of Continuing Medical Education Gives 100 CME credits US physicians required 20-25 credits/year Enhances US clinician knowledge in the area of Occupational Medicine
154 participants from 59 countries: Abu Dhabi Costa Rica Libya Romania Afghanistan (2) Dominican Republic Luxembourg (2) Saudi Arabia (2) Angola DR Congo Madagascar (3) Singapore Argentina (3) Ecuador (3) Mexico (10) South Africa (3) Azerbaijan (2) Egypt (2) Mongolia Sri Lanka Bahamas Germany Namibia (3) St. Maarten Bangladesh Ghana Nepal (2) Switzerland Bosnia/Herzegovina Haiti Netherlands Trinidad/Tobago (3) Botswana (5) India (4) New Zealand United Arab Emirates (2) Brazil Indonesia (4) Nicaragua (2) Uganda Cambodia Iraq (3) Nigeria United Kingdom Canada (3) Ireland (2) Pakistan (4) Uruguay Chile (7) Jamaica Peru (4) USA (17) China Kenya (4) Philippines Zambia (2) Congo Republic Liberia Poland
Considerations in structuring course Pedagogical Adult learners Competency based training Participatory Online features Foster bilateral interaction Allow students to go at their own pace Provide attractive and interesting media to better engage students Students can apply activities in their own workplaces Practical Students have time constraints Internet limited in places Some take in information faster than others English as a second language Levels of education vary
3 Challenges for Occupational Health Training Provide greater access, globally Bring down costs Market more widely to companies and individuals Upgrade the quality Competency based Increase active learning Use technology more effectively Program evaluation (ongoing, CQI) Link these programs Shared website Referrals of students that want something different from what we are offering Linked-in or other social media group?
Check us out Continue the dialogue GPOHP URL: occupationalhealthuic.com Forst-L@uic.edu