As a unique community within healthcare, occupational health practitioners need to be able to identify solutions and build best practices that are not only attuned to the medical needs of employees but also to the regulatory compliance needs for their particular industries. This year’s AOHP National Conference, presented by the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare, promises to be an exciting one for those in the field of occupational health.
The three-day conference, held this year in Glendale, Arizona on September 3-5, hosts networking events to cultivate professional relationships and an exhibit hall to connect with providers of the products, solutions, and services that power occupational health. But the most anticipated feature of this year’s conference is the plethora of workshops, presentations, and continuing education opportunities hosted by leaders in occupational health. Over 40 sessions will explore the top concerns impacting occupational health professionals, including:
- OSHA standards and compliance
- Employee mental health
- Vaccination programs
- Tuberculosis updates
- Managing stress
- Aging in the workforce
- Managing health conditions such as hearing loss
As attendees consider these varied topics, AI and other emerging technologies are likely to feature heavily in conversations at AOHP. AI is gaining prevalence and influence in healthcare, and professionals must consider not only the most valuable use cases for patients, providers and administrators, but also how to implement them responsibly and demonstrate their efficacy.
One session—”AI, AI, OH – Artificial Intelligence in Occupational Health,” presented by Peter Lee, MD, FACOEM—will explore these questions and propose answers that can help occupational health professionals design their organization’s path toward AI. Lee’s presentation will look at AI functionality for productivity and clinical decision support, addressing some of the challenges of traditional electronic health record (EHR) systems.
While EHRs are invaluable tools for occupational health, they can require time and effort for users to document encounters, navigate outdated user interfaces, and configure the software to meet occupational health’s unique needs. The amount of attention these tasks take can make it difficult for providers to balance thorough documentation and building connections with patients. Attendees of this workshop will learn how AI can make EHRs work for users, not against them. Possible use cases include streamlining documentation, automating routine but time-consuming tasks, and rapidly generating insights to support decision-making—all of which empower providers to reorient away from computers and back to their patients.
These applications of AI are poised to help occupational health professionals deliver better care, but they will need to comply with legal and industry regulations, as well as organizational AI policies. AI use cases for occupational health may require stricter governance due to the sensitive nature of employee health data, which comprises both personally identifiable information and protected health information. As part of his workshop, Lee will share some of the most relevant regulations and considerations, as well as ways to maximize the value of AI while working within legal and policy constraints.
Events like the AOHP National Conference provide valuable opportunities for occupational health professionals to expand their professional networks, develop skills in a continuing education environment, and learn about best practices and latest innovations from leaders in the field. Come back after the conference for a look at the biggest conversations of this year’s event.
Attend AI, AI, OH on Friday, September 5 at 11:35 am – 12:35 pm in Solana B.