As employers implement and expand occupational health services to advance worker health, ensure compliance with regulations, manage risk, and improve productivity, purpose-built occupational health technology – specifically, occupational electronic health records (OEHRs)– provide invaluable support.
Today, we’re sharing the first part in a new series on how organizations can select the best occupational health software for their unique needs. Over the next five weeks, you’ll learn how to compare occupational health systems and select an OEHR that fits your organization’s clinical, operational, security and support needs, including questions to ask before making the decision.
Occupational health is a complex and unique clinical specialty, best delivered with technology designed for comprehensive workforce health and readiness – far beyond the capabilities of a general medicine platform. An OEHR connects clinical care, human resources, and regulatory compliance in one cohesive system that simplifies everyday workflows and compliance without compromising clinician experience or privacy.
Meeting all ten of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) guidelines for occupational health software is essential, but additional OEHR capabilities can further streamline everyday activities, freeing up clinicians to focus on patient care and getting employees back to work.
Look for friction-reducing functions that provide:
- Industry-specific regulatory support
- Automated regulatory updates
- DOT exam workflows and specialized protocols
- Workers’ compensation documentation
- OSHA recordkeeping capabilities
- Pre-employment and fit-for-duty exam templates
Key Questions to Ask
To help build a greater understanding of the benefits of a particular OEHR, be sure to ask the following three questions when meeting with a vendor and evaluating a solution:
- Is the solution purpose-built for occupational health?
- Does the solution comply with all ten ACOEM guidelines for an OEHR?
- Does the template library include specialized occupational health templates that are validated by ACOEM best practices?
In the next part of this series, we’ll go more in-depth on clinical workflow efficiency. Subscribe to our mailing list to receive part two directly in your inbox.