In-Patient Occupational-Dermatological Prevention at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Dermatological Prevention and Rehabilitation (iDerm) at the University of Osnabrueck

Abstract

Since 2004, the German social accident insurance (DGUV), has implemented a nationwide structured interlocking concept of prevention of occupational skin diseases, with various offers of patient management depending on the level of disease severity (mainly contact dermatitis of the hands). This structured prevention concept is called procedure skin (''Verfahren Haut''). It includes for severe cases a three weeks in-patient interdisciplinary intervention, followed by another three week out-patient phase of intensive medical surveillance by the local dermatologist. Only after six weeks the recovered patient will then return to work, under further seamless surveillance by the local dermatologist. This measure was designed and scientifically evaluated by the Institute for interdisciplinary Dermatological prevention and rehabilitation (iDerm) at the University of Osnabrueck, and still is one of its most active areas of clinical patient care. In our long-term follow-up of patients over five years after the measure it could be demonstrated that the overwhelming majority of patients with initially severe contact dermatitis were able to continue their jobs through marked improvement of their skin condition. This was accompanied also by a sustainable enhancement of the quality-of-life. This inpatient prevention measure (tertiary individual prevention, TIP) offered by iDerm at the University of Osnabrueck is open to all workers in the country, insured by any of the statutory accident insurance bodies. The medical indication for TIP can be indicated through the dermatologist's report, which is a special form that dermatologists use to notify the respective accident insurance body of a case.