Opportunities at the intersection of work and health: Developing the occupational data for health information model

The study sought to develop an information model of data describing a person's work for use by health information technology (IT) systems to support clinical care, population health, and public health.

Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health worked with stakeholders to define relationships and structure, vocabulary, and interoperability standards that would be useful and collectable in health IT systems.

The Occupational Data for Health (ODH) information model illustrates relationships and attributes for a person's employment status, retirement dates, past and present jobs, usual work, and combat zone periods. Key data about the work of a household member that could be relevant to the health of a minor were also modeled. Existing occupation and industry classification systems were extended to create more detailed value sets that enable self-reporting and support patient care. An ODH code system, available in the Public Health Information Network Vocabulary Access and Distribution System, was established to identify the remaining value sets. ODH templates were prepared in all 3 Health Level 7 Internationalinteroperability standard formats.

The ODH information model suggests data elements ready for use by health IT systems in the United States. As new data elements and values are better defined and refined by stakeholders and feedback is obtained through experience using ODH in clinical settings, the model will be updated.

The ODH information model suggests standardized work information for trial use in health IT systems to support patient care, population health, and public health.