Hospital Employee Health – January 1, 2016
January 1, 2016
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The sick treating the sick: HCWs pressured to work ill
Employee health professionals must work with clinical colleagues to develop clear, supportive policies that clarify when ill healthcare workers should take a sick day rather than expose vulnerable patients and co-workers, researchers recommend.
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Some ill doctors would still care for immune-compromised patients
In an unpublished study of physicians presented recently in San Diego at the 2015 IDWeek conference, researchers found that doctors are willing to work with symptoms and maladies that would debilitate most people.
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Pediatric group on HCW flu shots: ‘Keep it mandatory’
The American Academy of Pediatrics has vigorously reiterated its call for mandatory influenza vaccination of healthcare workers, saying religious or philosophical objections to immunizations do not override the ethical imperative to protect patients and coworkers.
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OSHA issues new violence prevention strategies for healthcare
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently unveiled a new Web page with tools and real-world examples to prevent and defuse violent incidents in the healthcare workplace.
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The do’s and don’ts of using masks and N95s
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology has created two new fact sheets that outline key points on proper use and wear of N95 respirators and procedure masks in non-surgical settings.
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Is your staff immune to measles?
Employee health professionals should ensure the all staff have immunity to measles, as some 9 million U.S. children are susceptible to a virus that can cause chaotic outbreaks in healthcare facilities.
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Boston hospital pays record amount for drug diversion allegations
Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston has agreed to pay the United States $2.3 million to resolve allegations that lax controls enabled MGH employees to divert controlled substances for personal use.
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Employee health stays on track, but is there a bridge out ahead?
Results of the annual Hospital Employee Health Salary Survey and Career Report show that 80% of respondents have worked in healthcare for 25 years or longer, though most of them not strictly in employee health.