NIOSH Program Portfolio : Health Care and Social Assistance : Strategic Goals

NIOSH Programs > Health Care and Social Assistance > Strategic Goals

Health Care and Social Assistance

Inputs: NIOSH Strategic Goals

The NIOSH Health Care and Social Assistance Program is in the process of developing strategic goals to guide our research and partnership efforts over the next decade.

NIOSH previously used priority topic areas (e.g., traumatic injury, hearing loss) to guide research efforts. Goals take this approach a step further by identifying specific outcomes that NIOSH wants to target, performance measures for evaluating progress in meeting the outcome goals, and intermediate goals to describe the necessary steps that need to be performed to accomplish the goal. Setting goals is challenging for the following reasons:

It forces us to focus on a subgroup of issues where we think NIOSH can make an impact - a long list would spread our resources too thin to accomplish the goals. Not every worthwhile topic can be included.
It is difficult to develop performance measures. Available injury statistics have limitations, and exposure and health outcome measures are typically not available.
It is ambitious for NIOSH to set goals to achieve outcomes such as reductions in a national fatality rate. NIOSH is a research agency, so we don't often directly influence outcomes - we must partner well and influence other groups to show results.

NIOSH Program Portfolio Approach

NIOSH has been organizing research, guidance, information, and service efforts into specific programs that can be readily communicated and strategically governed and evaluated. Eight NORA Sector Programs represent industrial sectors, and twenty-four Cross-sector Programs organized around adverse health outcomes, statutory programs and global efforts.

The NORA Sector Programs intersect with Cross-Sector Programs in a matrix-like fashion. For example, an Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Program goal of reducing farm-related deaths and injuries due to tractor rollovers and trucks would likely be a shared goal with the Transportation Program and if appropriate would be adopted by both programs. This approach provides an added advantage and will allow multiple Programs to work towards accomplishment of intersecting goals.

Each of the 32 programs in the NIOSH Program Portfolio has a Manager and Coordinator. Each of the 8 NIOSH Sector Programs facilitates the work of a NORA Sector Council to engage external stakeholders in the process of developing sector goals for the nation and methods to measure the short-term, intermediate and long-term outcomes arising from those goals. The NORA goals for the nation will be considered when choosing NIOSH sector program goals. Cross Sector programs have internal Steering Committees that develop program goals and monitor outcome measures.

These planning efforts will position NIOSH to align with the most current governmental approaches for evaluating program effectiveness, i.e., the Program Assessment Rating Tool (or PART). PART is a mechanism to hold governmental agencies accountable for accomplishing results. As part of our comprehensive approach to performance measurement, NIOSH has engaged the National Academies to independently evaluate our sector and cross-programs for relevance and impact.

Draft HCSA Goals:

NIOSH is in the process of drafting strategic goals for the Healthcare and Social Assistance Program to guide NIOSH research. As required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), these strategic goals will be organized so that progress can be tracked as measurable outcomes. When competed, the strategic plan will include intermediate and annual goals along with performance measures to guide attainment of the strategic goals.
The current interim strategic goals guiding NIOSH researchers developing new projects related to the healthcare and social assistance sector are below:

Strategic Goal 1: Reduce the incidence and severity of work-related accidents and injuries to workers in the healthcare and social assistance sector.

Reduce back and shoulder disorders due to patient handling and/or work in awkward postures.
Reduce slips and falls.
Reduce workplace associated violent assaults (overlaps with goal #2).
Reduce sharps injuries (overlaps with goal #3).

Strategic Goal 2: Reduce or eliminate noninfectious hazardous exposures and health consequences for workers in the healthcare and social assistance sector.

Reduce occupationally-related cancer and adverse reproductive outcomes by reducing exposures to carcinogens and teratogens.
Reduce job stress, fatigue and associated outcomes and diseases by improving the organization of work and reducing exposure to psychologically unhealthy work environments (overlaps with goal #1).
Reduce adverse outcomes caused by exposures to allergens and irritants

Strategic Goal 3: Reduce or eliminate transmission of infectious diseases among workers in the healthcare and social assistance sector.

Reduce transmission of blood borne pathogens (overlaps with goal #1).
Develop and disseminate evidence-based guidelines and develop capabilities to prevent transmission of emerging infectious diseases and bioterrorism agents
Improve the scientific basis for preventing airborne transmission of infectious agents.

When draft goals for the NIOSH HCSA Program are completed, they will be posted here for review and comment. We will also use the NIOSH eNews to announce that draft goals are available for review.

Those seeking NIOSH grants to conduct studies benefiting workers in the healthcare and social assistance sector can view the priority topic areas for extramural investigators. They are closely related to the strategic goals listed above.

The NIOSH strategic goals and the priority topic areas for extramural investigators will be updated based on additional input received from the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). NORA is establishing and implementing a sector strategic plan for the nation.

NORA healthcare and social assistance sector activities

NIOSH is interested in your opinions about the relevance and value of these strategic goals for the healthcare and social assistance sector. We encourage you to consider partnering with us on issues of interest to you and your organization.

Page last updated: December 5, 2008
Page last reviewed: October 20, 2008
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Division of Respiratory Disease Studies

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Health Care and Social Assistance

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	NIOSH Programs > Health Care and Social Assistance > Strategic Goals Health Care and Social Assistance Inputs: NIOSH Strategic Goals The NIOSH Health Care and Social Assistance Program is in the process of developing strategic goals to guide our research and partnership efforts over the next decade. NIOSH previously used priority topic areas (e.g., traumatic injury, hearing loss) to guide research efforts. Goals take this approach a step further by identifying specific outcomes that NIOSH wants to target, performance measures for evaluating progress in meeting the outcome goals, and intermediate goals to describe the necessary steps that need to be performed to accomplish the goal. Setting goals is challenging for the following reasons: It forces us to focus on a subgroup of issues where we think NIOSH can make an impact - a long list would spread our resources too thin to accomplish the goals. Not every worthwhile topic can be included. It is difficult to develop performance measures. Available injury statistics have limitations, and exposure and health outcome measures are typically not available. It is ambitious for NIOSH to set goals to achieve outcomes such as reductions in a national fatality rate. NIOSH is a research agency, so we don't often directly influence outcomes - we must partner well and influence other groups to show results. NIOSH Program Portfolio Approach NIOSH has been organizing research, guidance, information, and service efforts into specific programs that can be readily communicated and strategically governed and evaluated. Eight NORA Sector Programs represent industrial sectors, and twenty-four Cross-sector Programs organized around adverse health outcomes, statutory programs and global efforts. The NORA Sector Programs intersect with Cross-Sector Programs in a matrix-like fashion. For example, an Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Program goal of reducing farm-related deaths and injuries due to tractor rollovers and trucks would likely be a shared goal with the Transportation Program and if appropriate would be adopted by both programs. This approach provides an added advantage and will allow multiple Programs to work towards accomplishment of intersecting goals. Each of the 32 programs in the NIOSH Program Portfolio has a Manager and Coordinator. Each of the 8 NIOSH Sector Programs facilitates the work of a NORA Sector Council to engage external stakeholders in the process of developing sector goals for the nation and methods to measure the short-term, intermediate and long-term outcomes arising from those goals. The NORA goals for the nation will be considered when choosing NIOSH sector program goals. Cross Sector programs have internal Steering Committees that develop program goals and monitor outcome measures. These planning efforts will position NIOSH to align with the most current governmental approaches for evaluating program effectiveness, i.e., the Program Assessment Rating Tool (or PART). PART is a mechanism to hold governmental agencies accountable for accomplishing results. As part of our comprehensive approach to performance measurement, NIOSH has engaged the National Academies to independently evaluate our sector and cross-programs for relevance and impact. Draft HCSA Goals: NIOSH is in the process of drafting strategic goals for the Healthcare and Social Assistance Program to guide NIOSH research. As required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), these strategic goals will be organized so that progress can be tracked as measurable outcomes. When competed, the strategic plan will include intermediate and annual goals along with performance measures to guide attainment of the strategic goals. The current interim strategic goals guiding NIOSH researchers developing new projects related to the healthcare and social assistance sector are below: Strategic Goal 1: Reduce the incidence and severity of work-related accidents and injuries to workers in the healthcare and social assistance sector. Reduce back and shoulder disorders due to patient handling and/or work in awkward postures. Reduce slips and falls. Reduce workplace associated violent assaults (overlaps with goal #2). Reduce sharps injuries (overlaps with goal #3). Strategic Goal 2: Reduce or eliminate noninfectious hazardous exposures and health consequences for workers in the healthcare and social assistance sector. Reduce occupationally-related cancer and adverse reproductive outcomes by reducing exposures to carcinogens and teratogens. Reduce job stress, fatigue and associated outcomes and diseases by improving the organization of work and reducing exposure to psychologically unhealthy work environments (overlaps with goal #1). Reduce adverse outcomes caused by exposures to allergens and irritants Strategic Goal 3: Reduce or eliminate transmission of infectious diseases among workers in the healthcare and social assistance sector. Reduce transmission of blood borne pathogens (overlaps with goal #1). Develop and disseminate evidence-based guidelines and develop capabilities to prevent transmission of emerging infectious diseases and bioterrorism agents Improve the scientific basis for preventing airborne transmission of infectious agents. When draft goals for the NIOSH HCSA Program are completed, they will be posted here for review and comment. We will also use the NIOSH eNews to announce that draft goals are available for review. Those seeking NIOSH grants to conduct studies benefiting workers in the healthcare and social assistance sector can view the priority topic areas for extramural investigators. They are closely related to the strategic goals listed above. The NIOSH strategic goals and the priority topic areas for extramural investigators will be updated based on additional input received from the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). NORA is establishing and implementing a sector strategic plan for the nation. NORA healthcare and social assistance sector activities NIOSH is interested in your opinions about the relevance and value of these strategic goals for the healthcare and social assistance sector. We encourage you to consider partnering with us on issues of interest to you and your organization. Page last updated: December 5, 2008 Page last reviewed: October 20, 2008 Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Division of Respiratory Disease Studies < National Research Agenda (NORA) \| NIOSH Strategic Goals \| Emerging Issues >				NIOSH Program: Health Care and Social Assistance Program Description Inputs Sector Description Economic Factors Occupational Risks National Research Agenda (NORA) NIOSH Strategic Goals Emerging Issues Partners NIOSH Contacts Activities NIOSH Research Projects NIOSH Funded Research Grants Outputs Publications Topic Pages Products Research to Practice Conferences Outcomes Review & Evaluation Program Review National Academies Evaluation
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