Alcoholism among hospital employees

An employee alcoholism service for hospital workers is described. Sixty-eight alcoholic workers identified over a 3 1/2 year period are assessed for current status as to activity in the service, work status, and drinking status by a chart review. The principle route of referral was via the employee health service (EHS) and a medical problem (63%) versus a supervisor or self-referral. Fifty-three percent of the workers are active in the service, 31% have had no contact, 12% are terminated from the job, and 4% are deceased. Of the active cases, 75% are abstinent. Active status in the service is highly associated with a supervisor or self-referral rather than an EHS referral. Self- and supervisor referrals to the service increased substantially after the initiation of an employee assistance program in the hospital.