The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47055

Linda A. McCauley, PhD¹, Thomas Brundage, MA², Diana Sticker, MPH¹, Gary Rischitelli, MD, MPH, JD¹, Joan Rothlein, PhD¹, and Michael A. Heumann, MPH³. (1) Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health & Sciences University, 3181 Sam Jackson Park Rd.L606, Portland, OR 97201, (2) Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology, Oregon Department of Human Services, Health Services, 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 772, Portland, OR 97232-2162, (3) Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology, Department of Human Services, Health Services, 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 772, Portland, OR 97232

The majority of U.S. states do not require reporting all accepted workers' compensation claims and most states only report injuries/illnesses resulting in time-loss. Public and private insurance companies hold information on both time-loss and medical-only claims. The potential utility of using information from multiple insurance companies to increase the understanding of work-related injuries and illnesses has not been previously explored. We are currently examining workers' compensation data from several private workers' compensation insurance companies to evaluate the methodology and feasibility of merging information from multiple sources into a common database. Challenges in utilizing these data sources for surveillance will be discussed. Such challenges include but are not limited to gaining insurer cooperation, issues of confidentiality, and standardization of multiple databases. Variability in coding scheme and inclusion of injury variables compound the issues of comparing different datasets. Identification of illnesses and injuries is most comprehensive when using information from several sources within the databases including narrative fields. However, taxonomies are needed to standardize and effectively analyze these narrative fields for the purpose of understanding trends and patterns of workplace injuries.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to

• describe the potential benefit of using private workers compensation insurance carrier databases for occupational injury surveillance;
• discuss potential confidentiality and proprietary issues in forming partnerships with insurance carriers;
• describe common methodological issues in merging datasets from multiple workers compensation insurance carriers.

Keywords: Occupational Health, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.