April 2004   In This Issue...   Front Page   Value Model   Toolbox   Integrated Program   Risk Management   Outcomes Connections Regulatory   Update Research   Review Interact   Member     Exchange     Forum Feedback	A Valuable Addition to an Occupational Health Professional's Toolbox Robin Tourigian, M.S.N., FNP, Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist and Case Manager, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Occupational health nurses (OHNs) are in daily contact with employees who exhibit a variety of health, medical, psychological, and social problems. These problems may affect workers’ abilities to perform their duties safely and productively and may also influence their personal and family lives. OHNs receive education and training to identify biological, psychological, social, and spiritual problems and help people in these areas. An OHN needs a toolbox of resources to help employees obtain the treatment and assistance they and their families need to address problems. An EAP can be a valuable tool in helping address the many issues confronted by employees and OHNs in the workplace. An EAP can be of assistance to an OHN in numerous ways, including the following: (1) Serving as a resource for information about and treatment for substance abuse (by either the employee or a family member), mental health, stress, and other concerns that can affect the workplace; (2) Conducting trainings and presentations, not only on workplace issues such as stress management but also family matters such as disciplining children and saving money for college; (3) Educating supervisors about how to manage employees who are stressed, how to identify possible substance abuse (SA), how to refer employees to the EAP, and so on; (4) Referring employees for evaluation and treatment of substance abuse, depression, personality disorders, substance abuse, etc; (5) Providing information and counseling to assist employees dealing with grief, elderly family members, etc.; and (6) Providing international and national service networks and resources, especially for national and international companies. How can an EAP demonstrate its value to an OHN and, by extension, the employer? Following are some suggestions: (1) Be business-oriented in your approach--provide statistics on your return on investment, present analyses of trends, emphasize your successes, demonstrate quality monitoring, and show points of improvement; (2) Respond quickly to requests, adopt and maintain a can-do attitude, and deliver what you promise in a timely manner; (3) Communicate clearly and effectively regarding case management, rehabilitation, and return-to-work services; (4) Offer a variety of methods of educating employees, such as booklets and pamphlets, videos, CD-roms, Web-based interactive programs, live presentations, newsletter (or articles for a company newsletter), health fairs, and so on; (5) Provide on-site services, especially in larger companies; (6) Offer an international and national network of resources for a company with national or international locations; and (7) Market your services not only to management and employees but also to your local OHN. A strong partnership between an OHN and an EAP can positively influence employee productivity and safety on the job, an employer’s bottom line, and a family’s quality of life. Individually, an OHN or an EA professional is just a single resource, but together we can provide a variety of ideas and suggestions to help those in need. References: Murray, C.J.L., and A.D. Lopez (eds.). 1996. Summary: The global burden of disease: A comprehensive assessment of mortality and disability from diseases, injuries, and risk factors in 1990 and projected to 2020. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University Press. Regier, D.A., W.E. Narrow, D.S. Rac, R.W. Manderscheied, B.Z. Locke, and F.K. Goodwin. 1993. The de facto mental and addictive disorders service system: Epidemiologic catchment area prospective 1-year prevalence rates of disorders and services. Archives of General Psychiatry 50(2): 85-94. DISCUSSION (Member Exchange Forum)   Back Issues   Top of Page   Contact EAPA   © 2004 Exhange On-Line is a publication of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association, Inc. (EAPA). Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is expressly prohibited. Publication of bylined articles does not constitute endorsement of personal views of authors. Appearance of paid advertisements does not constitute endorsement by EAPA.	Vol. 2    No. 1