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.

Duke Scholars

Author George W. Jackson Family Medicine and Community Health, Occupational & Environ ...