ACCREDITATION POLICIES IN OCCUPATIONAL-HEALTH CARE

Occupational health practitioners have striven for 60 years to develop and implement appropriate accreditation policies and procedures to pr omote quality assurance of occupational health practice. In 1987 the A merican Occupational Medical Association affiliated with the Accredita tion Association for Ambulatory Health Care, an independent ambulatory health care accreditation organization, to advance this movement. Thi s paper explores the history of occupational health care accreditation and identifies potential incentives needed to encourage accreditation of occupational health care. The Occupational Safety and Health Admin istration, industry, labor, insurance carriers, and professional organ izations collectively must develop strategies to promote accreditation and ensure that workers receive the maximum standard of occupational health care.