How I address quality and teamwork issues in the occupational health department.

To be successful in today's climate an occupational health provider needs well-trained and motivated staff who are both professional and focused on delivering quality services that meet the needs of their customers. Achieving this goal is facilitated by having a clear sense of mission with systems in place within the organization of the department that support this and encourage continuous improvement. Good communication, performance measures and teamwork are identified as key elements in realizing the goal of a quality department. This article, in sharing the experiences of addressing quality and teamwork, discusses important issues relevant to many occupational health departments.