What is the Healthcare Practice Specialty?

The healthcare profession covers hundreds, if not thousands, of topics. This profession is an ever-expanding arena that interfaces and overlaps more and more with safety, health and environmental (SH&E) professionals. An understanding of healthcare regulations and issues is a must for most SH&E professionals, and a strong knowledge of healthcare issues will make you a more marketable professional. With such a vast field of knowledge to cover, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) created the Healthcare Practice Specialty.

ASSE has always recognized the need for healthcare professionals in the SH&E arena. The Healthcare Practice Specialty was founded with the goal of developing and disseminating a Body of Knowledge for the SH&E community. This Body of Knowledge also serves those who wish to become SH&E professionals with interests in healthcare topics.

The members of the Healthcare Practice Specialty provide professionals and students with an abundance of resources. A brief overview of our resources is as follows:

Healthbeat—The Healthcare Practice Specialty publishes a tri-annual newsletter that includes timely articles on issues affecting healthcare professionals. The newsletter also includes hard-hitting and insightful editorial commentary from the Healthcare Practice Specialty Administrator. Article submission is encouraged. For information, contact the Newsletter Editor.

Healthcare Practice Specialty Website—The website contains links to many healthcare topics. Additional information found on the website includes Professional Development Conference (PDC) information, Body of Knowledge links, committee activities, current projects and volunteer requests. The Healthcare Practice Specialty welcomes your involvement in projects and committees.

PDC Events—The Student Roundtable is an important activity for the Healthcare Practice Specialty at the annual PDC. Student mentoring is a key strategic goal. We also sponsor pre- and post-seminars, sessions and receptions. Our involvement in providing healthcare presentations during general sessions has increased in number and attendance each year, and member involvement during the PDC is encouraged.

Members who would like to participate in future PDC events sponsored by the Healthcare Practice Specialty should contact the Administrator.

The Healthcare Practice Specialty Advisory Committee —The Advisory Committee is a group of dedicated professionals who give direction to the Healthcare Practice Specialty. They meet quarterly to discuss goal setting, assign responsibilities and approve actions. Current projects include the ongoing development of a Body of Knowledge, website expansion, newsletter content and outreach to other professional associations and organizations.

This is a brief explanation of how the Healthcare Practice Specialty provides value to its membership. There are many ways in which you can benefit by helping us. Your participation in projects, committees and events will not only help us reach our goals, but will provide you with invaluable experience and contacts as you grow with the SH&E profession. Let us know how we can assist you.

Key Contacts in the Healthcare Practice Specialty

• Administrator: Mark Shirley, shirlem@sutterhealth.org
• Assistant Administrator: Joseph Klancher, klancher.joseph@mayo.edu
• Newsletter Editor: Tony Stewart, stewarak@sutterhealth.org