Occupational and environmental medicine and primary care

This article introduces occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) to physicians in other specialties, and especially to primary care physicians, by highlighting the common foundations of OEM practice and primary care practice. These common foundations include careful diagnosis and treatment, appropriate use of consultants, collaboration with non-medical professionals, attention to psychosocial issues, care of the entire family, respect for confidentiality, patient education, preventing disability and maximizing function, diligent patient follow-up, epidemiological thinking, and continuing medical education.