The Joint Commission wants you to go for gold
In an era when controversial mandatory flu vaccine policies threaten to end up in some high court as a cause célèbre, The Joint Commission is urging healthcare organizations to go for the proverbial gold.
Joint Commission Resources recently launched the fourth annual Flu Vaccination Challenge, which is a nationwide charge to healthcare managers to raise their flu vaccination rate among staff.
"Flu vaccination of healthcare workers [HCWs] is important not only to help protect themselves, but also to reduce the risk of flu infection for patients," the JCR states. "Studies have shown that HCWs can be a potential source of flu infection in healthcare settings."
For the 2011-2012 flu season, Joint Commission Resources challenges organizations to reach a 75%, 85%, or 95% staff vaccination rate (bronze, silver, or gold, respectively). Last year, the average flu vaccination rate among participating healthcare organizations was 80%, which was 16% higher than the national flu vaccination average estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for healthcare workers (63.5%).
More than 1,200 health care organizations participated in the 2010-2011 Flu Vaccination Challenge. Of the organizations that submitted data (n = 826), 60% increased their flu vaccination coverage among staff from the previous season. As part of the Flu Vaccination Challenge, approximately 780,000 health care workers were vaccinated against the flu during the 2010-2011 flu season, Joint Commission Resources reports.
In the last flu season for facilities that submitted data, 17% (142) claimed a Gold Recognition Award, while 22% (177) achieved Silver, and 27% (255) were awarded Bronze. (Editor's note: For more information on the challenge, go to http://www.jcrinc.com/FLUChallenge.)
In an era when controversial mandatory flu vaccine policies threaten to end up in some high court as a cause célèbre, The Joint Commission is urging healthcare organizations to go for the proverbial gold.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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