10. Impact to the Bottom Line - Value Added Occupational Health Services!As Stephen Covey stated in his writings “Seek first to understand and then be understood” According to the Business World the definition of “Value Added” is a process, procedure or additive that will impact the worth, value, desire, need and or importance of a product. It therefore stands that the definition of “Value Added” Occupational Health Service is a process, procedure or additive that will impact the welfare of the employees and the bottom line of the company. (Graf-Kerr, 2001) The Way of the Past - “Industrial Plant Nurse” In days gone by the “Industrial Plant Nurse” spent time babysitting and tended to “rent” the job (a ‘short time” only on the job with no ownership!). The old concept of an “Industrial Plant Nurse” traditionally reflected a nurse who worked within a “silo” in isolation. The traditional services were reactive or clerical in nature. Traditionally the “Industrial Plant Nurse” services included;
The “Industrial Plant Nurse” required
Thankfully this “Industrial Plant Nurse” has gone the way of all the “ancient dinosaurs”. Welcome to the New 21st Century “Value Added” Occupational Health Services As Suzanne Gordon, an American journalist and advocate for nurses states in her article “Subtle Self-Sabotage” (1996) “How nurses unwittingly convey information that weakens their organizational status and detracts from the professional prestige”. In a presentation (2001) sponsored by CNO Ms. Gordon points out it is time to tell the world what we do! In Ms Gordon’s opinion “Necessary nursing care is MORE than the Heart of Health Care. Necessary Nursing Care is also the BRAINS of Health Care. It naturally follows “that necessary nursing care involves education and appropriate organization of nursing services”. Be aware - The Corporate Business World is Changing! Pritchett (2000) paraphrased the changing corporate business environment in an employee handbook named the “Culture Shift” as a need to recognize that “Our rapidly changing world calls for a culture with quicker reflexes, more speed, agility and flexibility. The future requires a shift to new responses. It’s time to change the way we handle change”. The time has come to move to the 21st Century and recognize the essential practices of “Valued Added” Occupational Health Services. No longer does this mean a babysitting job “rented” for the time being. More importantly the 21st century “Value Added” Occupational Health Services requires a highly skilled Occupational Health Nurse with specific education who takes ownership of the “Value Added” Occupational Health Services. This 21st century Occupational Health Nurse requires specialized education to qualify them as accredited specially trained nurses in Occupational Health and environmental safety services. These “new” occupational health nurses validate their knowledge base by writing the examination for Canadian recognition as a Certified Occupational Health Nurse with National recognition. This Canadian Certification Occupational Health Nurse (COHN-C) qualification allows the occupational health nurse to practice their specialty to protect the health of the employee at work. Notably this Occupational health Certification examination has the most stringent requirements of all the nursing specialties examinations. The Proof is in the Pudding – The Impact of “Value Added” Occupational Health Services The Hypothetical Question - is whether improving the health of employees can impact the company’s bottom line. By doing measurement of the outcomes through research, data collection and best practices standards one can prove the hypothesis that essential “Value Added” Occupational Health Services certainly do impact the bottom line. Lets get started - Twelve Steps to “Value Added” Occupational Health Services By following the Health Care Principles for Prevention as opposed to Rehabilitation (OOHNA Journal 2002 summer; Primary Health Care - Alma Ata, Ottawa Charter) this modern day Occupational Health Nurse specialist excels in the providing “Value Added” Occupational Health Services. Thus the beginning of the Occupational Health Nurse Profession new scope of practice in the 21st century Canadian Certified Occupational Health Nurse Accredited Professional Professional Practice Profile of an Occupational Health Nurse - Scope of Practice and Qualifications The “Valued Added” Occupational Health Services are reflected in the primary “essential practice” prevention activities outlined in the Workplace Occupational Health Services – A 12 Step Program (table 1). The organization must first agree to commit to these basic rules of prevention. The Occupational Health Services are reflected in the primary essential “Valued Added” activities outlined in Fact Sheet #1. Next: Fact Sheet # 2 - How to Broadcast the “Value Added” Occupational Health Services in a Business Plan! [pending] |