QUALITY MANAGEMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL-HEALTH SERVICES - THE NECESSITY OFA POWERFUL MEDICAL-PROFESSION

Over the past few years there has been a growing interest in quality m anagement in occupational health services, In this article the central role of the medical profession in this area is highlighted from a per sonal point of view, ii is argued that a powerful and active professio n is needed as a countervailing power in the field of tension between employees and the company, and for balancing the interests of these tw o main clients. Therefore, the medical profession should develop a pol icy on quality and apply quality management on national and local leve ls to reach a high professional level. In this way the profession can maintain the clinical autonomy that is necessary to be a countervailin g power. Elements of such quality management are national guidelines, local peer review and intercolleagual visitation. These activities mus t be incorporated in the quality management of the occupational health services unit.