Hospital Employee Health – February 1, 2015

February 1, 2015

• CMS targets employee health in infection control survey

  The high-profile effort to reduce health care associated infections (HAIs) nationally is casting light on employee health programs as well, as the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently finalized an infection control assessment tool that blends patient and worker safety.

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• HCV Can be Cured — But it’s Better to Prevent It

  A new hepatitis C drug offers a complete cure in as little as eight weeks – but at $1,125 a pop, the price tag is harder to swallow than the pill.

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• No viral load means no HCV restrictions

  Everything seemed in order for the certified surgical first assistant to start a new job. He filled out the human resources paperwork and went through the routine screening in employee health. He was healthy and had been working as a contractor at the hospital for 15 years, so he didn’t expect any stumbling blocks.

  Read more about No viral load means no HCV restrictions - Same-Day Surgery – March 1, 2015

• Healthy worksite toolkit calls for ‘participatory interventions’ to engage frontline workers

  Hospital employee health directors often wear a lot of hats: wellness, safety, ergonomics/injury prevention, and overall staff health. The challenge is implementing a program that addresses these different needs and engages employees in the process.

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• New Hampshire hospital uses healthy worksite kit, reports ‘more input from all levels of the hospital — the front line, management, finance.’

  A Rochester, NH hospital was among the first to implement a healthy workplace program based on the toolkit provided online by the Center for Promotion of Health in the New England Workforce, which is part of the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the University of Connecticut.

  Read more about New Hampshire hospital uses healthy worksite kit, reports ‘more input from all levels of the hospital — the front line, management, finance.’ - Hospital Employee Health – February 1, 2015

• Hospital’s Wellness Program Cuts Costs by More than $5 Million

  At the place where employee health and hospital benefits and wellness programs intersect, some striking results can be achieved.

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• CDC panel cites lack of evidence for Tdap booster

  Health care workers who receive the pertussis vaccine do not need additional boosters, a federal advisory panel decided.

  Read more about CDC panel cites lack of evidence for Tdap booster - Hospital Employee Health – February 1, 2015