News Briefs
AHA issues clarification on smallpox vaccination
The American Hospital Association (AHA) has sent Disaster Readiness Advisory #10 to all U.S. hospitals, updating them on the national smallpox vaccination program for hospital workers. In the advisory, AHA said that it had worked with the administration and Congress to clarify an earlier, narrower interpretation of Sect. 304 of the Homeland Security Act. This section was intended to provide liability protection for hospitals, health care workers and others who participate in the vaccination program.
The advisory noted that the new interpretation, which the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued in a guidance document Jan. 16, "moves closer to the intent of Sect. 304," by clarifying that a participating hospital in the vaccination program is a covered entity, regardless of where its smallpox response team is vaccinated. But the advisory, signed by AHA president Dick Davidson, said the association still has concerns about the voluntary program.
"Both the guidance and the declaration [which HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson issued to launch the program] continue to reference that coverage is provided only while acting within the scope of employment’; that is, potentially limiting protection for vaccinated persons who inadvertently spread the infection caused by the smallpox vaccine’s virus outside the participating hospital," the advisory said.
The declaration also does not address the AHA’s concern for nonparticipating hospitals, which should be protected when using health care workers who have been vaccinated as part of a state or federal plan. On Jan. 27, according to the advisory, AHA sent Thompson a letter responding to his declaration and addressing these two outstanding liability protection issues. The advisory is posted at www.aha.org, under "What’s New."
Frist working on laws to help vaccinated workers
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, (R-TN) said he would work to develop legislation providing funding to those injured by smallpox vaccinations and affirmed his willingness to consider legislation to address liability concerns.
Speaking before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Frist said that while Sect. 304 of the Homeland Secu-rity Act provides some liability protections,
"we must explore how this law interacts with state workers’ compensation laws as well as with state product liability laws in formulating the correct and most effective policy in this area."
William Schuler, CEO of Portsmouth (NH) Regional Hospital, testified that state public health departments may need additional funding to enable them to play a greater role in education, screening, and vaccination site care, which would ease the staffing issues to be shouldered by hospitals. Schuler noted that vaccinations could further exacerbate staff shortages due to time off.
Liability, ethics among AOHC conference issues
This year’s American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC) will be held May 2-9, 2003, in Atlanta. The conference will be held in the World Congress Center.
Topics will include case management, return to work, ethical concerns, regulatory and liability issues, ergonomics, business, and safety. Among the featured speakers will be John Henshaw, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, who will address the AAOHN/ACOEM joint session scheduled for Wednesday, May 7.
For registration information, visit the AAOHN site at www.aaohn.org, or call (770) 455-7757.
Stress at work linked to risk for back pain
A paper in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine (2003; 43:179-187) says that a stressful psychosocial work environment increases the risk for back pain.
The study, performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research in Morgantown, WV, and researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, looked at more than 6,000 workers in 160 newly opened retail stores.
The material handlers were interviewed at the outset of the study and then approximately six months later. After adjusting for history of back problems and work-related lifting, the researchers found that the risk of back pain was moderately increased among employees who reported high job intensity demands, job dissatisfaction, and high job scheduling demands.
AHA issues clarification on smallpox vaccination; Frist working on laws to help vaccinated workers; Liability, ethics among AOHC conference issues; Stress at work linked to risk for back pain.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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