TY - JOUR
T1 - Recent changes in occupational medicine in The Netherlands
AU - Weel, A. N.H.
AU - Van Der Beek, A. J.
AU - Kroon, P. J.
AU - Verbeek, J. H.A.M.
AU - Van Dijk, F. J.H.
N1 - Funding Information: During the 1990s a revival of professionalism in Dutch occupational medicine can be observed. The OPs have become aware of their arrears compared with general practitioners and medical specialists and are now trying to make this up. The Dutch Association of Occupational Medicine plays a central role in undertaking and encouraging these activities. We sum up the most important facts. The level of aliation with the Association is quite high: at present more than 1,000 OPs are full member, a large majority of all registered OPs. In 1990 the edition of the Handbook of Occupational Health Care was started. More than 100 experts contributed to this edition. In the spring of 1999 it will be completed and offered to the Minister of Public Health, Welfare and Sports. In 1993 a Dutch scientific journal (Tijd-schrift voor Bedrijfs-en Verzekeringsgeneeskunde) was jointly started by the societies for occupational and insurance medicine. In 1995 a professional profile defining the tasks and responsibilities of the OP was established by the Association, supported by its members. In 1996 the Foundation for Quality Improvement in Occupational Health Care published a report on the desired structure for the development of professional guidelines for OPs [6]. In 1997 guideline development was started on a small scale and there are prospects for financial support from the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports. Van der Weide [7] gave an example of implementation and evaluation of a guideline regarding low back complaints. Also in 1997 the associations for OPs and general practitioners agreed to co-operate. In the meantime they have worked out a common strategy for the consultation of employees with health complaints related to work.
PY - 1999/8
Y1 - 1999/8
N2 - In some respects, the Dutch seem to be fore-runners in Europe. Occupational health care for all workers can be considered as a substantial progress. Nonetheless, The Netherlands has taken the lead in Europe regarding high work pressure, sickness absence and disability for work. The resulting focus on sickness absence management in many companies is associated with changes in the tasks and position of the occupational physician. Quality of occupational health care is not always as high as it should be, partly as a result of the commercial approach occupational health services have to adopt nowadays. However, the post-academic education programme, with special attention for training of skills, is increasingly adapted to occupational physicians working in a commercial environment. Moreover, a basis has been laid for a better infrastructure and occupational physicians show an increase in professional enthusiasm. Furthermore, co-operation between different professionals has become increasingly common, resulting in a more comprehensive support for companies. Efforts are being made for better co-operation with general practitioners and medical specialists. Finally, the priorities for future research have been clearly outlined by a programming study. Experts are in demand for studies regarding implementation and evaluation of interventions, especially cost-benefit analysis. Furthermore, work stress and musculoskeletal disorders remain on the research agenda.
AB - In some respects, the Dutch seem to be fore-runners in Europe. Occupational health care for all workers can be considered as a substantial progress. Nonetheless, The Netherlands has taken the lead in Europe regarding high work pressure, sickness absence and disability for work. The resulting focus on sickness absence management in many companies is associated with changes in the tasks and position of the occupational physician. Quality of occupational health care is not always as high as it should be, partly as a result of the commercial approach occupational health services have to adopt nowadays. However, the post-academic education programme, with special attention for training of skills, is increasingly adapted to occupational physicians working in a commercial environment. Moreover, a basis has been laid for a better infrastructure and occupational physicians show an increase in professional enthusiasm. Furthermore, co-operation between different professionals has become increasingly common, resulting in a more comprehensive support for companies. Efforts are being made for better co-operation with general practitioners and medical specialists. Finally, the priorities for future research have been clearly outlined by a programming study. Experts are in demand for studies regarding implementation and evaluation of interventions, especially cost-benefit analysis. Furthermore, work stress and musculoskeletal disorders remain on the research agenda.
KW - Education
KW - Occupational health research
KW - Occupational health services
KW - Occupational medicine
KW - Occupational physician
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0032853266&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s004200050376
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s004200050376
M3 - Review article
C2 - 10447657
SN - 0340-0131
VL - 72
SP - 285
EP - 291
JO - International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
JF - International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
IS - 5
ER -