Introducing Greek Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Adverse Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to Metals

Background Aim: Implementing guidelines in the practice of occupational health is a high-priority need, since their use can reduce the variability in practice and increase professional efficiency, resulting in higher quality of health care services. The aim of this report is to provide information regarding the development process of the first series of national guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of adverse health effects occurring after occupational exposure to hazardous metals in Greece. This task was recently initiated in Greece as part of the health care reform system in the context of the ongoing financial crisis.