I agree with Dr. Sparhawk, who makes a very good point.  (Hi Dana.)  We also use the 14 plate Ishihara as the initial screening tool, for certain positions at our hospital including lab and nursing, as well as DOT.  However, if the employee or driver fails Ishihara we use a secondary testing method.  You can use felt swatches, colored paper, or as we do electrical wires.  I have also seen online color plates with hundreds of colors of varying shades.  I also don’t recall ever seeing anyone fail the secondary testing method.

 

Geoff Robinson PAC

MedWorks - Bristol Hospital

Bristol CT 06010

(Phone) 860-589-0114

(Fax) 860-589-1936

grobinso@bristolhospital.org

 

Connecticut Occupational Medicine Partners

http://compllc.org/

 

 

 

 

I am in agreement with Dr Upfal.  I myself am red green color blind, cannot read most of the Ishihara plates, but can distinguish between shades and colors very well.  Although we do the 14 plate Ishihara here too, we do not use it to disqualify, but rather to educate the employees with color deficiencies to work with their departments regarding tasks requiring color differentiation. 

 

Personally, I think those of us who fall into this category can differentiate shades on dipsticks, blood tubes, etc very well.  Likewise, in 30 years of doing DOT exams, I don’t recall ever finding a driver who could not differentiate the colors.

 

DS

 

 

Dana Sparhawk, MD, MPH

Director, Lifespan Employee and Occupational Health Services

Clinical Assistant Professor, Alpert Medical School, Brown University

Grads Dorm, Rhode Island Hospital

593 Eddy Street

Providence, RI  02903

(401) 444-7412

 

This transmission is intended only for the adressee(s) listed above and may contain information that is confidential and/or legally privileged.  If you are not the addresse, any use, disclosure, copying, or communication of the contents of this message is prohibited. Please contact me if this message was transmitted in error.  Thank you.

 

 

 

 

So how do you use the information?  Does it really predict job performance?  For which jobs?  What if they fail the test but can still perform the job? 

 

From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces+mupfal=dmc.org@mylist.net] On Behalf Of April Tainter
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2014 9:28 AM
To: 'MCOH/EH'
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] Color vision testing of healthcare workers

                14 plate for all employees.

 

April Tainter RN

Employee Health Nurse

ThedaCare-Shawano

100 County Road B

Shawano WI 54166

P 715-524-1493

F 715-524-9983

 

 

14 plate here.

 

 

 

We test nursing, laboratory, pathology, and medical staff for color vision with Ishihara 14 plate in our clinics.    We find that some of the hospitals with whom we are now affiliated are using Ishihara 38 plate instead of 14 plate.  What method do you all use?  Is there any evidence that more plates are a better screening tool in this setting?  Thanks for your input.

 

Susan Fair, MPAS, PA-C

Yale New Haven Hospital

Occupational Health Plus

New Haven, CT

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