Hospital Employee Health – November 1, 2011
November 1, 2011
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OSHA targets workplace violence at hospitals
Hospitals are places of high emotion and drama, of pain and fear, of last resort, and sometimes of desperation. In this patient-centered world, there has been a high tolerance of aggressive or explosive behavior. But not anymore. -
OSHA: Take steps to reduce work violence
In its compliance directive on workplace violence, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration advises employers to conduct a hazard analysis, assess needs for physical changes to reduce risk, provide employee training, and implement a variety of controls, such as bright lighting and security cameras. -
'Violence is not part of anybody's job'
After his cheek was fractured when a patient smashed a fist into his jaw in the emergency department, Jeaux Rinehart, RN, BSN, PHN, figured he'd had enough. He worked for 32 years as an emergency room nurse and loved it, but finally he could no longer tolerate patients hitting, yelling, cursing, or spitting at him. -
Flu shot mandates spur a backlash
Late in her pregnancy and fearful of the flu vaccine, the nurse wanted to hold off on immunization. At her hospital, though, the flu vaccine was mandatory. Get the shot or lose your job, her supervisor told her. -
OSHA: Exercise for back pain recordable
Imagine this scenario: A nurse has soreness and back pain related to patient handling and other work duties. A certified athletic trainer recommends a regimen of stretching and exercises to reduce the pain. Does that make the injury recordable? -
EH rounds build support for safety
Injury reports don't tell the whole story about hazards in the hospital. The best way to find out what you need to know is to talk to employees. -
Many HCWs don't know correct PPE sequence
Your annual training in the use of personal protective equipment may not be good enough. According to a study of PPE use during the H1N1 pandemic in Canada, most health care workers don't know how to choose the right items or how to put them on or take them off correctly. -
Rehab patients gain from safe lifts
Safe patient handling has been a hallmark of employee health. But perhaps it should also be a rallying point for patient safety advocates. -
Joint Commission: New year will usher in new CAUTI prevention requirements
The Joint Commission's new National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) on preventing indwelling catheter-associated urinary tract infections which emphasizes prompt removal of unnecessary devices and surveillance for CAUTIs is effective January 1, 2012 for hospitals. -
Follow the fab four
The elements of performance for the CAUTI prevention safety goal are as follows: -
VA programs cuts CLABSIs by >50%
The Joint Commission targets central lineassociated bloodstream infections in its 2011 national patient safety goals, with NPSG.07.04.01 calling for hospitals to "implement evidence-based practices to prevent (CLABSIs)." -
JC Q&A: Active testing for MRSA
The Joint Commission recently posted the following answer to a frequently asked question on screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). -
JC Q&A: What if CAUTI a low risk?
The Joint Commission recently posted the following answer to a frequent asked question on catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).