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ForwardAIHM-FIWH 101- Intro to Environmental Health
This module discusses practical approaches to limiting chemical exposures in the home and workplace and gives guidance to clinicians on how to integrate chemical awareness and educational resources into the daily workflow of patient/client care. But why should we care about environmental exposure?
Environmental chemicals have far-reaching molecular and physiologic impacts on human health. The shear enormity of toxins that are woven into the fabric of day-to-day human life makes educating patients a daunting task for physicians. Most of the more than 87,000 chemicals commercially available lack third-party safety testing; either testing is currently unavailable or there is unwillingness to finance these important safety studies, particularly for safety in pregnancy and in infants, children, and other vulnerable groups. Indeed, there appears to be no end in sight for industrialization and chemical utilization, and the current revised chemical safety regulations are inadequate in both the United States and the European Union.
Often, medical educators are left to the “precautionary principle” to guide us to common-sense changes to improve health. This principle was delineated in the Wingspread statement: “When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken, even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically" (deFur & Kaszuba, 2002). The key element is the matter of acting in the face of uncertainty, because hazard data are available for only a very small number of chemicals in commerce.
As practitioners, we must use the available science and our own medical training to guide our patients/clients to mitigate exposure to an array of chemical and radiation risks, through common-sense information and well-vetted available resources. The goal is to prevent disease rather than just treat symptoms.
Target Audience
This activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and social workers.
Learning Objectives
When you complete this module, you will be able to:
- Identify common environmental factors that can affect health.
- Assess potential environmental exposures.
- Recommend strategies to minimize environmental risks.
- Promote a healthier environment for patients.
All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.
Rachel Abrams, MD, MHS, ABFP, ABOIM
Bryan Hauf, MEd
Aly Cohen MD, MD FACR
Accreditation Statements
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine and the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 7.00 general continuing education credits.
American Osteopathic Association
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to award continuing medical education to physicians.
Designation Statements
Physicians
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth designates this program for a maximum of 7.00 contact hour of AOA Category 2B CME credits and will report CME and specialty credits commensurate with the extent of the physician's participation in the activity.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth designates this activity for a maximum of 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Pharmacist
This knowledge-based activity has been assigned UAN JA0004637-9999-24-040-H99-P and will award 7.00 contact hour of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognized ACPE Providers.
Statements of participation will indicate hours and CEUs based on participation and will be issued online at the conclusion of the activity. Successful completion includes completing the activity, its accompanying evaluation and/or posttest (score 70% or higher) and requesting credit online at the conclusion of the activity.
Credit will be uploaded to CPE Monitor, and participants may print a statement of credit or transcript from their NABP e-profile. HSC complies with the Accreditation Standards for Continuing Pharmacy Education.
Nurses
This activity provides up to 7.00 contact hours.
Social Workers
Social workers completing this course receive 7.00 general continuing education credits.
Certificate of Attendance
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth certifies this activity for 7.00 hours of participation.
Available Credit
- 7.00 ACPE Pharmacy
- 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 7.00 ANCC
- 7.00 AOA Category 1-B
- 7.00 ASWB Credit
- 7.00 HSC Participation