Hospital Employee Health – May 1, 2009
May 1, 2009
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Joint Commission makes it perfectly clear: Get the surgical smoke out of OR
The air is clearing in the nation's operating rooms, as The Joint Commission places a greater emphasis on evacuating smoke from electrocautery procedures. -
HCW protection gets a piece of fed spending
Health care workers may be among those who benefit from the recent spending boost in Washington, DC. The 2009 Omnibus Appropria-tions Bill includes language that directs $3 million to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to fund research into the modes of transmission of influenza and respirators and other personal protective equipment (PPE) that protect health care workers. -
CMS adds to pressure for safe patient handling
One pressure ulcer can cost as much as your entire budget for new patient handling equipment. That alone is a reason to create a safe patient handling program that can accommodate patients of size, whether or not your hospital performs bariatric surgery. -
Look beyond patient care for ergo risks
If you've implemented safe patient handling but serious musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) injuries persist at your hospital, perhaps you haven't gone far enough. Employees in many nonpatient care areas also face significant risks. -
Hospitals alert to reproductive hazards
As the use of chemotherapeutic agents and hazardous drugs becomes more commonplace, hospitals are placing a new focus on identifying potential reproductive hazards. -
CDC launches action plan to combat XDR-TB
Although tuberculosis has reached an all-time low in the United States, the persistence of TB globally including extensively drug-resistant (XDR)-TB means that U.S. hospitals must remain vigilant to prevent spread of the disease, public health experts say. -
A safer method of needle removal?
A manufacturer of needle removal and disposal devices is seeking to expand the company's marketing niche by appealing to hospitals that are seeking to cut costs.