A medical surveillance program includes the analysis of both individual and aggregate surveillance data over time, with the goal of reducing and ultimately prevent occupational illness and injury.

What is the purpose of medical surveillance?

The fundamental purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment of the individual and thus has a clinical focus. The fundamental purpose of surveillance is to detect and eliminate the underlying causes such as hazards or exposures of any discovered trends and thus has a prevention focus.

What is one benefit of having a medical surveillance program?

Medical surveillance programmes can identify workers who have, or who are developing, work-related asthma. These programmes can also be used to avoid worsening of symptoms by implementing preventive measures.

What is a medical surveillance program?

Medical surveillance describes activities that target health events or a change in a biologic function of an exposed person or persons. A surveillance program involves recurrent longitudinal examinations and data analysis over time.