NEWS BRIEFS
NEWS BRIEFS
Workplace injuries hit all-time low
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a total of 6.1 million injuries and illness in private injury workplaces during 1997, resulting in 7.1 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers. This was the lowest rate reported since BLS began tracking this information in the early 1970s.
About 2.9 million injuries and illnesses were lost workday cases; that is, they required recuperation away from work, restricted duties, or both. Of the 6.1 million nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses, 5.7 million were injuries that resulted in either lost work time, medical treatment other than first aid, loss of consciousness, restriction of work or motion, or transfer to another job. There were about 430,000 newly reported cases of occupational illnesses in private industry in 1997; manufacturing accounted for three-fifths of these.
To obtain a free copy of the report, contact: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Attn. Andrew Knestaut, Room 3180, 2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E., Washington, DC 20212-0001. Web site: http://stats.bls.gov/oshhome.htm.
HHS launches new Web resource
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC), www.guideline.gov, an Internet-based source of information on clinical care designed to help health professionals improve the quality of care they provide their patients. The NGC, a repository for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, was developed by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research in partnership with the American Medical Association and the American Association of Health Plans.
The site identifies and features evidence-based clinical practice guidelines created by medical and professional societies, managed care organizations, hospitals, state and federal agencies, and presents them with standardized abstracts and tables that allow for comparison of guidelines on similar topics. More than 500 such guidelines have been submitted.
Organizations wishing to submit a guideline should contact: Vivian Coates, ECRI, NGC Project Director, 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462-1298. For questions about guideline submissions, contact: Jean Slutsky, NGC Project Officer, at: (301) 594-4042, or via e-mail at: [email protected].
Hartford Life introduces financial planning
Hartford Life Insurance of Simsbury, CT, in conjunction with FinancialPoint, an affiliate of ComPsych (a provider of Employee Assistance Programs and managed behavioral health and work/life programming), and Arthur Andersen LLP, is introducing financial planning services for its group life beneficiaries.
This new service provides personal financial counseling in areas such as estate settlement, funding of children’s college education, retirement planning, continued home ownership, and cash flow and budgeting. Through a toll-free number, all beneficiaries receiving a benefit of $10,000 or more can speak with master’s and doctoral-level clinicians, and also have access to certified financial planners or certified public accountants at Arthur Andersen.
For more information, contact: Hartford Life, Simsbury, CT 06070. Telephone: (860) 843-7424. Web site: www.thehartford.com.
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