Summary Abstracts
Spring/Summer 2020 Journal
Editor’s Column
A standard feature, the Editor’s Column provides commentary from the current Journal Editor, Kim Stanchfield, RN, COHN-S. In this issue, she and other members of the AOHP Executive Board reflect on the dramatic changes in their work lives since March 2020 and the increased visibility of occupational health professionals in their organizations.
Staying Current on Government Affairs
In his Journal column, Stephen Burt, MFA, BS, AOHP Government Affairs Committee Chair, provides analysis of recent government affairs activities. For this issue, he examines the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) response to COVID-19, as well as efforts by advocates to pressure the agency to further protect healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic.
Association Community Liaison Report
This regular Journal article details how AOHP is gaining visibility as an expert regarding occupational health issues. In this edition, author Bobbi Jo Hurst, BSN, RN, MBA, COHN-S, SGE, provides a reflection on the critical importance of occupational health professionals in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic – specifically efforts of the Employee Health team in her organization – and the benefits of support provided by AOHP.
Perspectives in Healthcare Safety
Cory Worden, PhD ABD, MS, CSHM, CSP, CHSP, ARM, REM, CESCO, shares his insights on safety in healthcare in this standing column. This issue's feature – Opinion Overload and Misplaced Battles – describes the value of employers conducting a methodical risk and control analysis to reduce COVID-19 exposures and virus transmissions as quarantines end and businesses reopen.
Annual Treasurer's Report
Dana Jennings, RN, BSN, AOHP Executive Treasurer, shares the results of AOHP’s financial review completed for the year ending December 31, 2019, with an explanation of the association’s ongoing work to maintain financial stability. An overview of AOHP’s financial position for 2019, including a summary of income and expense, is depicted graphically.
Chronic Pain Treatment – How We Missed the Boat
Chronic pain, which affects millions of people globally, is typically treated as acute pain instead of persistent pain. Mel Pohl, MD, explains differences in how the body processes pain and why common treatments for chronic pain don’t work. He lists five key treatment principles, stressing the importance of treating the whole person to address physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects of suffering.
Back to Basics: The Volatile Healthcare Environment, Dynamic Hazards, and Thorough Safety Culture Development
Safety culture development is absolutely necessary to prevent incidents, especially in the healthcare environment. Cory Worden, PhD ABD, MS, CSHM, CSP, CHSP, ARM, REM, CESCO, explores the static and dynamic hazards that exist in the healthcare environment. He reviews the importance of identifying these hazards, ensuring hazard controls are in place, validating safe behaviors and conditions, and investigating incidents to exponentially increase safety.
Removing the Enigma: A Methodical Risk and Control Analysis of COVID-19
As the effects of COVID-19 continue to impact people across the globe, many opinions have been shared regarding how governments, businesses, and the general public should respond. Article author Cory Worden, PhD ABD, MS, CSHM, CSP, CHSP, ARM, REM, CESCO, explains how to use a facts-driven risk management decision-making process and hazard analysis to manage acute and chronic risks of COVID-19 while optimizing exposure prevention.
EXPO-S.T.O.P. 2018 – An Overview of Blood Exposure Incidence in 281 US Hospitals
AOHP has conducted the EXPO-S.T.O.P. survey of blood and body fluid exposures in hospitals annually since 2011. This report presents results of the 2018 survey and, using a variety of tables and figures, compares the results with those of previous EXPO-S.T.O.P., International Safety Center EPINet, and Massachusetts Sharps Injury Surveillance System surveys. Authors include Linda Good, PhD, RN, COHN-S, and Terry Grimmond, FASM, BAgrSc, GrDpAdEd&Tr.
The Perils of Perfectionism in Nursing
Don’t let perfectionism derail your leadership career! Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, describes traits and explains pitfalls of perfectionism. By addressing the differences between excellence and perfectionism, supervisors can succeed at empowering staff and transformational leadership.
Prepare and Pursue Board Opportunities: A Practical Guide for Nurse Leaders to Serve on a Board
Nurse leaders serving on boards use familiar skills of planning, managing, navigating, and building healthcare solutions. Kimberly A. Cleveland, JD, MSN, RN, C-MBC, C-MPC, and Kimberly J. Harper, MS, RN, FAAN, explain how nurse leaders who are adequately prepared for board service find intrinsic value in dedicating time, talent, and treasure to a cause that closely matches their values and interests.
Effects of Air Pollution and Other Environmental Exposures on Estimates of Severe Influenza Illness, Washington, USA
This study evaluates the effects of air pollution and other environmental exposures in ecologic models estimating influenza-associated hospitalizations. The study links hospitalization data, viral surveillance, and environmental data, including temperature, relative humidity, dew point, and fine particulate matter, for three counties in Washington state for 2001–2012. Authors include Ranjani Somayaji, Moni B. Neradilek, Adam A. Szpiro, Kathryn H. Lofy, Michael L. Jackson, Christopher H. Goss, Jeffrey S. Duchin, Kathleen M. Neuzil, and Justin R. Ortiz.
More Meaningful Meetings
Teresa Shellenbarger, PhD, RN, CNE, CNE-cl, ANEF, and Jennifer Chicca, MS, RN, CNE, CNE-cl, provide skilled clinicians with advice on how proper preparation and follow-up help to keep meetings productive and on track. Decision-making approaches and managing meeting challenges are highlighted.
Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Following ACL Injury
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) develops after joint injury. Specifically, patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury have a high risk of developing PTOA. Li-Juan Wang, Ni Zeng, Zhi-Peng Yan, Jie-Ting Li, and Guo-Xin Ni outline the incidence of ACL injury that progresses to PTOA, analyze the role of ACL reconstruction in preventing PTOA, suggest possible mechanisms thought to be responsible for PTOA, evaluate current diagnostic methods for detecting early OA, and discuss potential interventions to combat PTOA. They also identify important directions for future research.
Small Changes Can Have a Big Impact on Your Work-from-Home Setup
Kathy Espinoza, MBA, MS, CPE, CIE, addresses the millions of workers who now telecommute due to COVID-19, encouraging them to evaluate their workspace and make simple but highly effective ergonomic adjustments to improve comfort and enhance productivity.