Collaboration Between General Practitioners and Occupational Physicians

Abstract

There are some barriers to cooperation, on the part of both OPs and GPs. Initiatives are needed to encourage cooperation between these two types of physicians.

Collaboration of occupational physicians with national health system and general practitioners in Italy

“…workplace-based return to work interventions or JobReha discharge letter), that are be able to improve the collaboration between OPs and other physicians, can accelerate the reintegration process and reduce work disability duration and costs23, 24, 25 ) . Unfortunately, several studies from different countries showed that communication between OPs and different physicians, especially GPs, is often lacking or very poor, at best suboptimal and sometimes it may become adversarial, even if it should be noted that data on this topic are sorely limited2, 5, 7, 9, 15, 17, 22, 26 ) . Consequently, considering that to the best of our knowledge the interaction between OPs and other physicians has not yet been explored in Italy, we conducted a national survey of Italian OPs to explore this topic, identifying two main areas of interest that is the relationships of OPs with the NHS facilities and with the GPs.…”

“…The questionnaire used in this OP survey was developed after conducting a careful review of the relevant studies regarding surveys of physicians in the OM specialty10, 11, 12, 13 ) , and the studies that investigated the cooperation between OPs and GPs or other physicians2, 5, 6, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17 ) , in order to define the main indicators of the investigation. Furthermore, the questionnaire was also designed taking into account the specific Italian regulatory framework for occupational health and safety.…”

“…Consequently, GPs and other specialists may play a key role in the field of OM by detecting possible links between patients’ health problems and occupation5 ) . For example, in this context, taking a complete, effective and comprehensive occupational history by GPs could contribute significantly in reducing the phenomenon of under-reporting of occupational diseases6, 7 ) .…”

“…Indeed, GPs exercise a remarkable influence during the treatment and recovery of patients with chronic illness or disability, providing them effective clinical management and sick notes that trigger or continue periods of absence from work8 ) . In this regard, at the same time OPs, after a prolonged sick leave of workers, must re-evaluate their fitness for work in order to identify any difficulties (resulting from the disease suffered) that could occur when workers returns to work5 ) . In Italy, as an example, after 60 days of continuous sickness absence from work, EEs have to undergo a medical examination, namely the “pre-return to work visit”.…”

Are psychologists and psychiatrists assessing work capacity part of the problem or solution? / Jesu li psiholozi i psihijatri koji ocjenjuju radnu sposobnost dio problema ili rješenja problema?

“…Assessing work capacity is a complex task that requires team work in occupational medicine departments and help from the patient's physician (1,2). This team work involves general practitioners, psychiatrists and/or psychologists, and occupational health specialists.…”