[MCOH-EH] Testing Color Vision in Healthcare Institutions

[Radke, Laura L. M.D.]

My employee health team has recently asked me if they should be providing depth perception testing for any new hires.  Short of physicians who perform complex procedures, I really can't come up with a group of healthcare workers who needs to be tested but am wondering if any in this group are doing such testing and, if so, for which healthcare workers.

Appreciate any feedback you can share!

Laura L Radke, MD
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine
Medical Director, F&MCW Occupational Health Services
Phone: 262-253-8197 | Fax: 262-253-5152 Cell Phone: 414-530-0723
E-mail: laura.radke at froedtert.com<mailto:laura.radke at froedtert.com>
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Workforce Health / North Hills Health Center
Building B First Floor
W129 N7055 Northfield Dr.
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051



From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net> On Behalf Of Swift, Melanie D., M.D., M.P.H. via MCOH-EH
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 6:12 PM
To: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh at mylist.net>
Cc: Swift, Melanie D., M.D., M.P.H. <Swift.Melanie at mayo.edu>
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] Testing Color Vision in Healthcare Institutions

I'm not aware of a regulatory requirement for medical color vision testing of any specific occupational group. The closest are CLIA requirements for assuring that laboratory staff can correctly identify colors on the tests they use (which can be done via competency testing if designed carefully, avoiding the need for a medical color vision test.) Accreditation of dialysis units often includes making sure staff can interpret color indicators for water quality monitoring etc, but again that can be accomplished with competency testing.

Most labs, dialysis clinics, and some regulatory site visitors reflexively interpret those standards as requiring a medical color vision test, and pressure their OH service to perform something like Ishihara plates, but per prior posts that can miss color vision deficiencies pertinent to the task at hand. If you as the occupational physician educate them (and your internal accreditation professionals and attorneys) then you have hope of changing this longstanding, entrenched practice!

Melanie

From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net<mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net>> On Behalf Of Rudnick, Howard L
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2022 2:43 PM
To: mcoh-eh at mylist.net<mailto:mcoh-eh at mylist.net>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [MCOH-EH] Testing Color Vision in Healthcare Institutions

Cn someone provide a list of those employees in a hospital that require color vision testing in order to do their job?

Howard L. Rudnick, MD,MHA,FACP
Clinical Professor (Adjunct), Department of Medicine
Medical Director, Occupational Health Services
Temple University Health System
Office:  (215) 707-3026
Cell:  (267) 838-7040


________________________________

This electronic message is intended to be for the use of the named recipient, and may contain information that is confidential or privileged. This communication may contain protected health information (PHI) that is legally protected from inappropriate disclosure by the Privacy Standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and relevant Pennsylvania Laws. You can direct questions concerning PHI or HIPAA to the Corporate Compliance and Privacy Officer at (215) 707-5605. If you are not the intended recipient, please note that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, you should notify the sender immediately by telephone or by return e-mail and delete and destroy all copies of this message.

Confidentiality Notice:

This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/attachments/20220629/93e2659d/attachment-0001.htm>