Although environmental health risks are a leading cause of illness and death, the average health professional receives minimal environmental training. Even when environmental factors are identified as a source of a health problem there is often little knowledge about how to address or prevent the problem. The health care provider’s understanding of the relationship between environment and disease can lead to improved health, improved quality of health care and more effective health care spending for the public. This can only be achieved by the integration of environmental health issues throughout the various stages of training and clinical practice for health care providers.
The National Environmental Education & Training Foundation, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Department of Health and Human Services, the US Department of Agriculture, and the US Department of Labor created the Pesticides and National Strategies for Health Care Providers Initiative in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders and developed an implementation plan. This national initiative sets out a strategic direction to improve the recognition, diagnosis, management, and prevention of adverse health effects from pesticide exposures.
This initiative provides a model for incorporating other environmental health issues into the education and training of health care providers in the United States as well as in other countries.
See www.neetf.org/health/PesticidesNatlStrat.htm
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the components of a health professional education and training model for environmental health 2.Recognize the need for a broad stakeholder involvement in order to develop a successful model.
Keywords: Health Education Strategies, Pesticides
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Environmental Education and Training Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Health and Human Services, US Department of Agriculture, US Department of Labor.
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.
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