Analysis of appeals against the ruling of occupational physicians lodged with the Prevention and Occupational Epidemiology Operative Unit, ASP Palermo (Palermo Health Authority), from 2008-2010.

INTRODUCTION: The responsibility of the Department for Prevention and Safety at the workplace of the Palermo Health Authority (ASP) is to monitor and coordinate the activity of occupational physicians operating in Palermo and its province. One of its obligations is to examine appeals "against the judgment of occupational physicians", "..and, after carrying out further investigation, confirm, modify or reverse the ruling itself" (art. 41, par. 6, legislative Decree 81/08). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the appeals lodged against a judgment of fitness for work" submitted to the "Health Prevention and Occupational Epidemiology Operative Unit" of the Department of Prevention and Safety at the Workplace of the ASP Palermo, from 2008 to 2010. METHODS: The total number of appeals lodged during the three-year period was 211, 174 of which were finalized. RESULTS: The most frequent job category among the appellants was that of blue-collar workers, in various sectors, covering 44.5% of the subjects under study (93 cases). In 64.2% of the processed appeals (131 cases), the judgment of the physician was modified, while in the remaining 36.8% (73 cases) it was confirmed. The work fitness judgment with restrictions was the category against which most appeals were lodged, and the diseases in question mostly concerned the osteoarticular and cardiovascular systems. CONCLUSION: In a context of continuous change in the labour field and the related risks to the health and safety of workers, the occupational physician must approach the worker in a comprehensive manner, through an assessment of the possible health problems and the working environment in which he/she operates.

[Evaluation of customer satisfaction with the hospital catering system in the city of Palermo (Italy)]. / Valutazione della Customer Satisfaction nella "Ristorazione Ospedaliera" della città di Palermo.

The aim of the study was to evaluate patients' customer satisfaction with the hospital catering services of two public hospitals and one private sector hospital in the city of Palermo (Italy). A multiple choice questionnaire was administered by face-to-face interview to 207 of 227 hospitalized patients. Positive responses regarding the perceived quality of food were given especially by patients of the private sector hospital, 80% of which reported being satisfied with the catering service. A higher percentage of patients in the private sector hospital were satisfied with the food distribution modalities with respect to the two public hospitals. Only 3% of patients in the private sector hospital required their families to bring food from home, with respect to 7.9% and 30% respectively in the two public hospitals. Private sector patients also reported appreciating the wide availability of food and the help given by health care workers (79% vs a mean of 55% in the two public hospitals). No differences were found amongst hospitals with regards to the hygienic characteristics of meals. The results of this study indicate the need to make changes in the management of the catering service of one of the involved public hospitals especially.