Lasting Harms from Exposure to Chemical Weapons – 'Khamisiyah Plume' Linked to Brain/Memory Effects in Gulf War Vets

Gulf War veterans with low-level exposure to chemical weapons show lasting adverse effects on brain structure and memory function, reports a study in the October issue of JOEM. Read more 

Special Report in JOEM Addresses Occupational Hazards in Visual and Performing Arts

Painters, actors, and other artists face a wide range of hazardous occupational exposures and working conditions, according to a special 3-article collection in the September issue of JOEM. Read more 

High Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Commercial Drivers

About 40% of commercial drivers may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), suggests a research review that looks at occupational risk facts for OSA. The study appears in the June issue of JOEM. Read more 

Online Course Offers Cutting Edge Health and Safety Strategies for Employers

Three of the nation’s leaders in occupational health and safety have launched a new online course to help employers integrate their health and safety programming in ways that can improve the health and wellbeing of their workers while bolstering bottom-line results. Fundamentals of Integrated Health and Safety, a 7-module eLearning course, was developed by the ACOEM and UL in partnership with the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health. Read more

Traffic-Related Air Pollution Linked to DNA Damage in Children

Children and teens exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution have evidence of a specific type of DNA damage called telomere shortening, reports a study in the May issue of JOEM.
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What's Your Company Policy on E-Cigarettes?

As e-cigarettes continue to increase in popularity, employees are unclear on whether their employers have any company policy on "vaping" — or whether that policy is different for vaping versus tobacco smoking, reports a survey study in the April issue of JOEM. Read more

Workplace Weight Management Programs Lowers Costs, Improve Quality of Life

Employees who participate in a workplace weight management program—even those who don’t lose weight—have reduced health care costs and improved quality of life (QOL), reports a study in the November issue of JOEM. Read more

Occupational Fatigue — New Insights on Causes and Consequences

Sleep loss and poor working conditions are the most important causes of occupational fatigue—which can impair mental and physical performance with the potential for serious errors and injuries, reports a review and update in the October issue of JOEM. Read more

Overweight and Obesity Linked to High Workers' Compensation Costs

Obese and overweight workers are more likely to incur high costs related to workers’ compensation claims for major injuries, reports a study in the September issue of JOEM. Read More

Gulf War Veterans Still Have High Rate of Multisymptom Illness

Veterans of the Gulf War are more than twice as likely to have medically unexplained symptoms known as "multisymptom illness" (MSI), compared to Iraq/Afghanistan War veterans, according to an updated research review in the July issue of JOEM.
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Long Work Hours Linked to Higher Risk for Cardiovascular Disease

Working long hours — particularly 46 hours per week or more — may increase the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events such as heart attack, reports study in March JOEM. Read more

Best Practices for Workplace Wellness Programs

Building a company-wide culture of health and developing an effective communications strategy are characteristic of companies with outstanding workplace health promotion programs, according to a report in the February issue of JOEM. Read more

Study examines stock market performance and employee health and safety programs

A study utilizing investment simulations for 17 publicly held companies with strong health or safety programs for employees suggests that employers that invest significantly in health and safety programming can outperform other companies in the marketplace. The study was published in the January 2016 issue of JOEM.
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Focus on Well-Being Improves Worker Health While Lowering Costs

One company's program to improve employee well-being led to improvements in worker health and productivity while decreasing health care costs, reports case study in October JOEM.
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Florida AOEM Meeting

08/19/2018

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Orlando, FL

2018 Western Occupational Health Conference (WOHC)

09/12/2018 - 09/15/2018

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Parc Central Hotel, San Francisco, CA

Central States Fall Seminar

09/14/2018 - 09/15/2018

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Milwaukee, WI

PanAmerican OEM Health Conference

09/27/2018 - 09/29/2018

1:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Windsor Barra Hotel -- Rio de Janiero

Tri-State OMA Conference

10/19/2018 - 10/20/2018

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Dublin Campus of Ohio University

Practice Guidelines 3rd Edition iPhone/iPad Application

The complete strength-of-evidence practice recommendations for presenting disorders from the 3^rd edition of ACOEM’s Occupational Medicine Practice Guideline’s is now available annual subscription option to ACOEM’s iPhone/iPad App. The App can be found at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/acoem-practice-guidelines/id405416599?mt=8 or through your device’s App store (search term “acoem practice guidelines”).  Read more  

ACOEM Practice Guidelines CodesLink™

The connection between evidence-based recommendations, CPT codes and ICD9 codes is detailed in ACOEM Practice Guidelines CodesLink™ product. A crosswalk data file which includes every permutation including state variations is intended for inclusion in proprietary systems and value added resellers allowing them true access to recommendation detail, not just color coded status.
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EME Impairment Software Now Available!

WholePerson® Premiere 5 and WholePerson® Premiere 4 software solutions from EME International include comprehensive Impairment Rating Programs which includes tests to be used in determining a final AMA Impairment Rating based on the 4th or 5th edition of the AMA Guides. All reports have a comprehensive reference to page, chapter and table. All tests will combine and sort as needed. Multi trauma, multiple tests is easily handled. Free technical support for 30 days. Also available FCE Reporter, an easy-to-use general-purpose Functional Capacity Evaluation reporting system for documentation automation. Read More 

 

 

ACOEM Makes Opioid Guidelines Available

 

The over use of opioid therapy for chronic pain conditions is becoming epidemic in the U.S. While opioid therapy may be appropriate in carefully selected cases, active monitoring and adverse event anticipation are crucial. ACOEM’s evidence-based Guidelines for the Chronic Use of Opioids were developed as guidance for managing injured workers whose pain has not been controlled by more conservative means. Read more 

DOT / CDME Special Assessment Program

 

CDME Self Assessment Activity based on the new 5th edition of The DOT Medical Examination! Earn 15 CME/MOC!

When you order the SPECIAL CDME ASSESSMENT PROGRAM – Two Essential Resources for physicians conducting DOT physical examinations – we will ship you your book and the CDME Self-Assessment activity, including the 46-questions, answer sheet, answer key, and CME/MOC attestation form.

These materials are designed to help physicians and others deepen their knowledge of the DOT medical examination process. They do not guarantee inclusion on any register that may be forthcoming. ACOEM will make information on any new regulations in this area available to members. 

 

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ACOEM Offers to Assist DOL with Review of Workers' Comp Systems 

ACOEM is an organization of more than 4,000 occupational physicians and other health care professionals, which provides leadership to promote optimal health and safety of workers, workplaces, and environments. Work fitness and disability management is a core competency of occupational medicine. Read More

ACOEM Comments on Proposed Revisions to OSHA Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines

Overall, ACOEM applauds OSHA’s efforts to strengthen workplace preventive efforts, and recognizes the importance of systematic planning and high-level management support for key elements of successful preventive programs, including employer affirmation of the importance of safety and health, a clear system of accountability, ongoing surveillance for potential workplace hazards, skilled investigation of workplace injuries and “near misses,” engagement of workers in setting workplace health and safety policies, effective training, and careful attention to the control or elimination of identified risks. Read More

ACOEM Urges FMCSA to Withdraw Proposed CMV Medication Form 

ACOEM has long been a proponent of FMCSA providing appropriate tools for use by those medical examiners with appropriate training and knowledge to determine the medical fitness of the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver. The proposed Medication Form, however, falls far short of being able to adequately assess whether a driver will be impaired by medications or an underlying medical condition. Read More

ACOEM Supports CDC’s Recommendations on Opioid Use to Treat Chronic Non-cancer Pain

The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) supports the CDC’s 12 proposed recommendations for the safer and more effective use of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) and the rationales supporting them. Read More