Diagnosis | Occupational Cause Flag – New Asthma Diagnosis

Diagnosis | Occupational Cause Flag – New Asthma Diagnosis

🏭 Occupational Cause Flag – New Asthma Diagnosis

This shared component prompts clinicians to consider whether a patient’s asthma may be linked to their occupation. It appears only when asthma has been recently added to the record.


🧭 When Will I See This?

This prompt appears dynamically when:

  • The patient has a newly recorded asthma diagnosis

  • The system identifies this as a recent addition (e.g. within the past few months)


📋 What To Record



Field
Purpose
Occupation or Workplace ExposureRecord any known workplace exposure to dust, fumes, chemicals, etc.
Occupational Cause SuspectedCheckbox or code confirming potential work-related cause
Advice GivenConfirm discussion about reducing exposure or referring to occupational health
Referral MadeOptional field for referral to OH, respiratory specialist, or GPwER

🧠 Occupational asthma may qualify for additional workplace protections or compensation — documentation is key.


🧠 Why This Matters

  • Occupational asthma is under-recognised but accounts for 1 in 6 adult-onset asthma cases

  • Early recognition may prevent long-term harm and inappropriate treatment

  • Documentation may support patient advocacy or legal claims if applicable


💬 Suggested Questions to Ask

  • “Have your symptoms started or worsened since starting your job?”

  • “Are you exposed to dust, smoke, fumes, or chemicals at work?”

  • “Do your symptoms improve when you're away from work?”


This component ensures clinicians are prompted to assess a possible occupational trigger for new asthma diagnoses and supports accurate documentation, referrals, and patient protection.