Diagnosis and management of work-related injuries and illnesses

Session details

Date:

Time:

Location:

Zoom videoconferencing

Didactic presentation by:

Vincent Spilchuk

Session objectives

At the end of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Define occupational illness and occupational injury
2. Evaluate a patient for a suspected occupational or environmental illness/injury
3. Outline a return-to-work plan

Session resources

CAN/CSA-Z94.4-18: Selection, use, and care of respirators
This Standard sets out requirements for the selection, use, and care of respirators and for the administration of an effective respiratory protection program in the workplace. Source: CSA Group
Code for medical surveillance for designated substances
Learn how physicians should conduct surveillance programs of designated substances. Source: Government of Ontario
Code for medical surveillance for designated substances. Part II: Medical surveillance program requirements for individual designated substances
Learn about requirements for medical surveillance programs for Silica. Source: Government of Ontario
Diagnosis and management of work-related injuries and illnesses
In this presentation, Dr. Vincent Spilchuk defines occupational illness and injury and discusses how to evaluate a patient for a suspected occupational or environmental illness or injury and outline a return-to-work plan.
Impact of respiratory protective devices on respiration: Implications for panic vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic
Perna G, Cuniberti F, Daccò S, Nobile M, Caldirola D. Impact of respiratory protective devices on respiration: Implications for panic vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Affect Disord. 2020 Dec 1;277:772-778. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.09.015.
Occupational Causes of Sarcoidosis
Newman KL, Newman LS. Occupational causes of sarcoidosis. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012 Apr;12(2):145-50. doi: 10.1097/ACI.0b013e3283515173.
Occupational Medicine Clinic, St. Michael's Hospital
The Occupational Medicine Clinic at St. Michael’s provides clinical consultations and exemplary care to those who are suffering from occupational and environmental injury and disease. Patients are seen through referral from their family physician or from specialists. Source: Unity Health, Toronto
Quality of life, anxiety and depression in sarcoidosis
Goracci A, Fagiolini A, Martinucci M, Calossi S, Rossi S, Santomauro T, Mazzi A, Penza F, Fossi A, Bargagli E, Pieroni MG, Rottoli P, Castrogiovanni P. Quality of life, anxiety and depression in sarcoidosis. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2008 Sep-Oct;30(5):441-5. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2008.04.010.
Respirator Selection
Workers should use respirators for protection from contaminants in the air only if other hazard control methods are not practical or possible under the circumstances. Respirators should not be the first choice for respiratory protection in workplaces. Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Sarcoidosis: An Occupational Disease?
Oliver LC, Zarnke AM. Sarcoidosis: An Occupational Disease? Chest. 2021 Oct;160(4):1360-1367. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.06.003.
WSIB: Report an Illness or Injury
How workers and employers can report an illness or injury that happens on the job to WSIB. Source: Workplace Safety and Insurance Board

About presenter

Dr. Vincent Spilchuk is the Residency Program Director in the Division of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and holds the rank of Assistant Professor.

Spilchuk is an occupational medicine subspecialist and general internal medicine specialist. He is active in clinical, consulting, and public health settings.

Case presentations

Most of the learning in ECHO happens through presenting and discussing case presentations. If you have a case you would like to present, please submit a completed case presentation form to the ECHO OEM project coordinator.

Physicians presenting a case may bill OHIP for case conferences (billing codes K707 or K701).