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Describes how many Asia‐Pacific countries have experienced a major shift in occupational health services in the last two decades. There is an extension of occupational health services with more co‐ordinated efforts of all social partners, action programmes with emphasis on practical risk assessment and primary prevention, and more active participation of managers and unions, supported by occupational health personnel.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about disruption in the way health-care professionals carry out their day-to-day practices across communities. The purpose of this research paper is to explore the professional experiences of occupational therapists working in community and rehabilitation mental health settings during a period of the COVID-19 pandemic and to help gain an understanding of how their day-to-day work practices have been affected.

A qualitative phenomenological research study explored the lived experiences of ten occupational therapists working within Health Service Executive community and rehabilitation mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included eight community mental health occupational therapists and two rehabilitative mental health occupational therapists. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Three themes were identified: holding on to what we do; technology: friend and foe; and COVID as a catalyst to clarify the occupational therapy role. These themes capture the community changes, challenges and frustrations experienced by the occupational therapists while striving to provide quality mental health occupational therapy services during the pandemic.

The findings demonstrate the adaptive nature of the profession, the importance of traditional observation methods of community-based care, the experiences with telehealth approaches and an opportunity to clarify misconceptions of aspects of the profession’s role in relation to employment-related issues and occupational therapy group work within such mental health settings.

To investigate the effects of payor–provider integration on the operational performance of health service provision. The research explores whether integration governs agency problems and tilts the incentives of diverse actors toward more systematic outcomes.

A two stage multimethod case study of occupational health services. A qualitative stage aimed to understand the reasons, mechanisms, and outcomes of payor–provider integration. A quantitative stage evaluated the performance of the integrated hospital against fee-for-service partner hospitals with a sample of 2,726 patients.

Payor–provider integration mitigates agency problems on multiple levels of the service system by complementing formal governance mechanisms with informal mechanisms. Compared to partner hospitals, the integrated hospital yielded 9% lower the total costs of occupational injuries achieved primarily by emphasizing conservative care and faster recovery.

Focuses on occupational health services in Finland. Provides initial evidence of the effects of payor–provider integration on the operational performance.

Vertical integration may provide systematic outcomes but requires mindful implementation of multiple mechanisms. Rigorous change management initiative is advised.

For patients, the research shows payor–provider integration of health services can be implemented in a manner that it reduces care costs while not compromising care quality and customer satisfaction.

This study provides a rare longitudinal analysis of payor–provider integration in health-care operations management. The study adds to the knowledge of operational performance improvement of health services.

A distinction must be drawn between a dismissal on the one hand, and on the other a repudiation of a contract of employment as a result of a breach of a fundamental term of that contract. When such a repudiation has been accepted by the innocent party then a termination of employment takes place. Such termination does not constitute dismissal (see London v. James Laidlaw & Sons Ltd (1974) IRLR 136 and Gannon v. J. C. Firth (1976) IRLR 415 EAT).

In 1990, 682 staff (61 per cent response without reminder) employed by 17 districts in the North Western Health Authority were surveyed to discover both their awareness of the existence of the Occupational Health Service and other relevant agencies, and their views about the principal roles of this service. There were replies from staff in six main occupational groups. The results showed clearly that most employees are aware of the existence of the service as a compulsorily provided general practice, while a small group of managers thought of it as a management tool to assist them in controlling their workforce. There was some significant occupational variation which pointed to the same direction – the strong curative image the service has among its clients. The most important conclusion derived from this research is the urgent need to expand NHS staff expectations towards more preventive activities the Occupational Health Service might and should provide.

Examines the provision of an occupational health service and the audit of such a service as one barometer of an organization's effective functioning. Occupational health is seen as part of the human resource function and encompasses health care, health education/information, health surveillance and health protection. It is concerned with the effect of health on work as well as the effect of work on health. Looks at attempts to measure the effectiveness of such a service using the traditional arguments of reduction in the costs of work absence and the increase in worker morale. Finally, suggests that the most effective argument is the cost to an organization of not putting into place an effective occupational health service. Concludes by recognizing that occupational health services must be more accountable, and be regularly audited. At the same time there is a social aspect to any enterprise and an element of humanitarianism without which human institutions lose a significant part of the reason for their existence.

Observes that the World Health Organization (WHO) has promoted the goal of “Health for All” since 1977. The Workers’ Health Programme of WHO aims to: strengthen international and national policies for health at work; develop a healthy work environment; develop healthy work practices and health promotion; strengthen occupational health care and services; establish appropriate support for occupational health; develop occupational health standards which are science‐based; develop human resources for occupational health; establish appropriate information systems and raise public awareness; strengthen research; foster collaborative efforts.

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the delivery of occupational therapy (OT) community mental health services nationally, resulting in the rapid expansion and delivery of services through telehealth. While telehealth technology and its use are not new, widespread adoption was precipitated by the cessation of face-to-face services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Research in this field has been conducted previously; however, it is not specific to OT in the Irish context. This study aims to explore service users’ experience of telehealth OT interventions in adult mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A descriptive qualitative approach was used to explore service users’ experience of mental health telehealth OT services. Five service users were recruited to participate in a focus group to explore their experience of OT via telehealth. The themes identified from this focus group were then further explored via individual interviews. Four of the service users who participated in the focus group chose to complete in-depth interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was then completed.

Two key themes emerged from the data. The theme of positive telehealth experiences included subthemes of gratitude for the option of telehealth and accessibility. The second theme of learning from experience, included subthemes of human connection, preferred platforms of telehealth methods and future considerations for telehealth interventions.

These findings provide a unique insight into the importance of continuing OT services via telehealth, from the service users’ perspective.

It is becoming increasingly important for providers of health care to manage the health and safety of their workforce effectively. In the competitive world of health care, organizations seeking accreditation for quality are having to allot greater importance to health and safety than in the past. The manager of occupational health services for West Birmingham Health District, which has recently applied for Trust status, explores some of the reasons for this.

People are a company′s most valuable resource. Protection of this investment is, therefore, very important. In today′s business world, never before has so much attention been paid to the health and safety of people at work. Explains the part played in this by occupational health management. Defines occupational health and outlines the ways in which occupational health services can help to improve productivity. Identifies the elements that need to be included in an occupational health plan.