Hospital Employee Health – February 1, 2005
February 1, 2005
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CDC draft guidelines call for a major cutback on annual TB testing
How hospitals test health care workers for tuberculosis infection would change fundamentally for the first time in 10 years under draft guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). -
CDC’s sample TB cases show hospitals how to assess risk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided examples of how to assess risk and determine if a health care setting should be classified as low or medium. Here are three excerpts from the draft TB guidelines. -
Wicker amendment brings confusion — and relief
A reprieve from federal enforcement of annual fit-testing was greeted by some hospitals like a holiday present from Congress, but it has scarcely registered at other facilities. -
Fit-testing rule draws emotional response
The TB doctor stood and made her plea. Annual fit-testing is a waste of time and resources, she said. She and her staff dont even wear masks and they dont become infected, the doctor added. -
Stressed over fit-testing? Are you doing too much?
Industrial hygienists insist annual fit-testing is essential to the proper use of respirators. Infection control practitioners argue tuberculosis patients, once identified and isolated, pose little risk to health care workers. But perhaps they agree on one point: Hospitals are doing too much fit-testing. -
Flu vaccine goes unused even by high-risk groups
With only one-third of priority groups receiving the influenza vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urged midseason vaccination and expanded the groups eligible for vaccination. -
Hospitals go forward with mandatory flu vaccine
Boosting health care worker flu vaccination has been tough during a vaccine shortage. But commitment to this goal hasnt waned for two hospitals that are launching mandatory vaccination programs. -
What it takes to be ‘safest hospital in the nation’
Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood, SC, isnt satisfied with a 48% reduction in needlesticks or a 53% decline in the recordable injury rate. In fact, Self Regional has raised the bar much higher than that. Our overall goal is to be safest hospital in the nation, says Mary Margaret Jackson, CPHQ, director of Performance Outcome Services. -
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