Summer 2015 Journal Summary Abstracts

Organization Leadership
Organization Leadership is a standing Journal column highlighting current hot topics. In this issue, Executive President Dee Tyler, RN, COHN-S, FAAOHN, highlights the value of strategic planning to an organization's success, reviews key elements of AOHP's 2012-2015 Strategic Plan that are serving as the foundation for future goal-setting, and explains how the Board of Directors is launching discussions regarding the 2015-2017 Strategic Plan.

Vice President's Update
AOHP Vice President Dana Jennings Tucker, BSN, RN, CCM, presents an article written by AOHP member Stephen A. Burt, MFA, BS, that provides information and insight about OSHA's adoption of stricter, expanded enforcement protocols against hospitals, nursing homes and long term care facilities. He reviews OSHA's plans to monitor compliance with rules related to safe patient handling, workplace violence, bloodborne pathogens, tuberculosis, and slips, trips and falls, in addition to exposures to infectious agents and hazardous chemicals. The article presents actions that healthcare facilities should take now to prepare for inspections.

Annual Treasurer’s Report
Elaine Dawson, RN, COHN, AOHP Executive Treasurer, shares the results of AOHP’s financial review completed for the year ending December 31, 2014, whereby AOHP was noted to demonstrate appropriate financial management strategies. An overview of the organization’s positive financial position for 2014 is depicted in a series of graphs.

Editor’s Column
This standard feature provides commentary from the current Journal Editor, Kim Stanchfield, RN, COHN-S. In this issue, she informs the members why AOHP's Journal has been declined for indexing in the National Library of Medicine (Pub Med) and an assessment of the eligibility requirements needed for the publication to attain this goal.

Association Community Liaison Report
Through this regular Journal article, MaryAnn Gruden, MSN, CRNP, NP-C, COHN-S/CM, details how AOHP is gaining visibility as an expert regarding occupational health issues. In this edition, she reviews: the new TJC/CDC/NIOSH/NPPTL educational monograph Implementing Hospital Respiratory Protection Programs: Strategies from the Field; OSHA's updated "It's the Law" poster and revised Hazard Communication Requirements; information from OSHA on the cost of workplace injuries; a NIOSH online training course on nurses and fatigue; and new NIOSH bulletins and topic pages.

Advances in Technology
This recurring Journal column provides readers with helpful information about current technological advances that have the potential to improve the work of occupational health professionals. Column editor Cindy Brumley, RN, presents a discussion of how we communicate through email and texting. Short message service, multimedia message service and instant messaging, in addition to video chats and really simple syndication, are reviewed and explained.

Medical Documentation of Domestic Violence: Considerations for Occupational Health
Domestic violence has become the number one health risk to women in the United States. The American Medical Association has estimated that almost four million women a year are victims of domestic violence. Over one million women every year require medical attention for injuries inflicted by their abusive partners. Article author Linda Miller Lentz, MA, RN, explores how the medical community plays an important role in screening, treating and documenting for domestic violence, and specifically why the Occupational Health Department may be the first and only setting for disclosures of domestic abuse in a safe forum.