The definition of ‘occupational medicine’ offered relates to patients with health and safety problems arising from the workplace and is cited by the authors as representing a large proportion of emergency admissions.
Some of the subject matter does not immediately appear relevant to the paramedic profession, although the contributors argue that emergency and occupational medicine overlap.
The American influence is not difficult to identify as the book is based on the premise that emergency physicians are largely restricted to A and E, whereas occupational medicine is seen to be practiced in a wide variety of settings. A subtle distinction perhaps, but it does generate confusion in relation to what is considered a medical emergency and more importantly, which group of health professionals the book is aimed at.
The book is successful in highlighting the extent of work-related injuries and occupational illnesses in America, which are of course as relevant elsewhere as they are in the US. Law enforcement personnel and fire fighters get a specific mention as do ‘prehospital care personnel’.
‘Undoubtedly a good reference text but unlikely to be a core text for paramedic practice in the UK’
However, with the content of this section extending to ambulance crashes and accidental self-injection of adrenaline, there is scope for a re-appraisal of the topics included e.g physical violence directed towards emergency service personnel and work-related stress. Regrettably, these contemporary issues only receive nominal consideration and is surely a significant short-coming of a text aimed at those working in emergency medicine.
The book is a little light on underlying A and P, more extensive use of illustrations and case studies would have been beneficial and the narrative occasionally gets in the way of the clinical analysis.
The trans-atlantic perspective results in some of the terminology being lost in translation and could see the book adopting a purely health and safety at work theme. Undoubtedly a good reference text but unlikely to be a core text for paramedic practice in the UK.