The National Institute for occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a Healthcare and Social Assistance (HCSA) program
that aims to eliminate occupational diseases, injuries, and fatalities among
those who provide human/veterinary healthcare or social assistance in a broad
range of facilities (e.g., hospitals, clinics, nursing and private homes, day
care). The HSCA works to reduce
work-related injuries in priority areas, such as injuries caused by either
animal or human patients, and among high risk populations like workers in home
health care, nursing homes, and veterinary medicine/animal care. The HSCA also
has the goal of reducing work related illnesses and risk factors for
infections, respiratory, dermal, and cardiovascular diseases as well as cancer
and adverse reproductive health outcomes. Main research activities of the HSCA
include disseminating useful prevention strategies for all affected workers,
addressing knowledge gaps that may be barriers to developing effective
prevention strategies, and conducting surveillance for injuries, diseases, and
risk factors.
I'm glad a program like HCSA exists. It serves a very specific population that's easily overlooked. I appreciate that it also does research in many areas that are lacking and have disparities.
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