Third Edition of Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines released

The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) has released the Third Edition of Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines to subscribers of the guideline development and content publishing platform, APG-I. The proprietary, evidence-based system provides full access to ACOEM's complete guidelines, featuring thousands of pages of the most current evidence medical treatment recommendations.

"This release represents the completion of years of effort by ACOEM, its primary research partner, the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, its Editor in Chief, Kurt Hegmann MD, MPH, FACOEM, and scores of volunteer panelists, reviewers and other contributors," said ACOEM President Natalie Hartenbaum, MD. "The latest version of the Guidelines offers more value than ever before to users, providing maximum access to information - not just our recommendations, but to the evidence and rationale behind them, vital to good medical decision-making."

With the release of the Third Edition, ACOEM has completed its transition to an enhanced evidence based methodology, which includes original systematic reviews, evidence tables and a completely independent multi-specialty panel development process.

The Third Edition contains more than 12,650 references and 2,500 recommendations - the most comprehensive collection of evidence-based musculoskeletal medical recommendations available, with supporting evidence levels, tables, and references. The new edition includes updates to the previously revised Elbow and Low Back Disorders chapter and the newly created Hip and Groin and Chronic Pain chapter. It also includes formal updates to the Neck and Shoulder Disorder chapter and first viewings of the Knee and Ankle/Foot chapters.

Additionally, the Third Edition contains updates to ACOEM's Foundation Chapters, essentially a primer for the practice of occupational medicine by other specialists.

The APG-I platform allows advanced access to the Third Edition, including browsing and searching via text and keyword, ICD9 and CPT codes. Existing ACOEM member-subscribers to the APG-I Plus product automatically will receive access to both the New York Medical Treatment Guidelines and California MTUS guidelines modules in addition to Third Edition content (previous chapters version will be available as PDFs).

Unique to APG-I Plus is a new feature, "one-button search duplication," which will allow users to duplicate California Module searches in the Third Edition - thus allowing an easy comparison of legislative-based guidelines with the most current evidence-based guidelines.

First published in 1997, Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines has become the leading source in the United States for evidence-based guidelines used by occupational physicians and other health care professionals. ACOEM's guidelines are also used by insurers, employers, attorneys, and other individuals and organizations involved in health and safety in the workplace.

The electronic release is aimed at APG-I subscribers, the print versions will be available in the next 10 to 12 weeks.