What Is Occupational Medicine?

Many businesses employ on-site doctors to aid in the care of employees. The focus of these physicians is to promote on-the-job health and they practice a field of medicine known as occupational medicine.

Facts

• Occupational medicine focuses on the prevention and management of work-related injury, illness and disability. It also promotes the health and productivity of workers and their families.

History

• Prior to 1945, heavy industry (such as mining and steel making) employed physicians to deliver acute and surgical care to employees. By 1945, the practice of employing physicians to provide care for employees had spread to businesses with a predominance of administrative positions. These programs were known as occupational medicine programs, and in 1955, occupational medicine received specialty status from the American Board of Preventive Medicine.

Function

• Modern-day occupational medicine physicians address worksite and environmental concerns. They also tackle community health and policy issues such as product safety and benefits value management.

Types

• Occupational medicine encompasses most of the traditional medical areas including internal/family medicine, surgery, toxicology and preventive medicine.

Potential

• Occupational medicine physicians are clinical consultants, researchers and educators. This has resulted in a growing need for trained physicians in private industry, education and government agencies.