In an exciting development, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) will sponsor two accredited pre-conference courses in conjunction with RYAN Associates’ national conference for the first time this year.
Medical Review Officer (MRO) I: Fast Track Course
There is an ongoing need for physicians to acquire the training required to function as an MRO, which involves evaluating work-related drug screen results, consulting with donors and providing expert interpretation for employers in confidential situations. An estimated 20 million Americans are subject to work-related drug testing on an annual basis. Occupational health programs with a qualified MRO on staff or immediately accessible through a professional affiliation provide a value-added service to client companies.
- According to ACOEM, this course is intended for:
- Physicians seeking to update or enhance their knowledge of drug testing and/or perform as an MRO.
- Physicians and other health care professionals interested in developing or improving their skills in conducting alcohol and urine drug screening, evaluating results, addressing job safety and return-to-work issues, and interpreting federal regulations governing truckers, pilots, other Department of Transportation workers, federal contractors and energy industry employees.
- Physicians preparing to the take the Medical Review Officer Certification Council’s initial certification or re-certification examinations and who need to meet continuing medical education (CME) eligibility requirements.
ACOEM is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The course is designated for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 credits. It also satisfies 7.5 ABPM MOC credits. The MRO course will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Boston on Oct. 9 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Oct. 10 from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The Medical Review Officer Certification Council will offer an MRO certification exam at the conclusion of the course. To register for the course, use RYAN Associates’ national conference registration form, available at www.naohp.com. To register for the exam, visit www.mrocc.org or call 847-631-0599. The MRO course director is Kent W. Peterson, M.D., M.R.O., president of Occupational Health Strategies, Charlottesville, Va. Dr. Peterson also serves as vice chair of the Medical Review Officer Certification Council, medical director of Examinetics, an Exemplar International company, and medical director of the Federal Executive Institute. The faculty for the course has not yet been assigned. The fee for the program, including course materials, breakfast and refreshment breaks, is $675 for ACOEM members, $815 for non-members and $345 for retirees and students.
OSHA Injury and Illness Recordkeeping Process
ACOEM’s OSHA recordkeeping course, scheduled at the Hyatt Regency in Boston on Oct. 9 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., is intended for physicians, nurses, non-clinical occupational health program personnel, attorneys, human resource managers, labor relations staff and other occupational health and safety professionals involved in workers’ compensation and injury and illness management. The course is designated for a maximum of 7.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credits.
The course will feature a detailed review of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s recordkeeping rules. It will cover:
- Rules and process requirements, including documentation.
- The rationale behind the regulations.
- Regulatory nuances and exceptions.
- A standardized case-analysis process for determining recordability.
- An audit process for evaluating regulatory compliance.
- Useful resources.
The course director is Patrick Beecher, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., president of The Beecher Advisory Group, a corporate medical consulting firm. He is the former group medical director, Corporate Medical Operations, for General Motors, and former medical director for occupational health and safety at Ford Motor Company. The fee for the program is $345 for ACOEM members, $415 for non-members and $185 for retirees and students.
Visit www.naohp.com to access the registration form or call RYAN Associates at 800-666-7926.
