Hospital Employee Health – November 1, 2016
November 1, 2016
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Healthcare Workers Remain At Risk of Patient Handling Injuries
With proposed federal legislation in political limbo, too many nurses and their colleagues at the bedside remain at risk of life-altering injuries as they try to care for an increasing population of acutely ill, heavier patients without safe handling equipment.
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OSHA Focus on Safe Patient Handling
While there is a general consensus that safe patient handling programs nationally suffer from a lack of implementation and enforcement, employee health professionals should be aware that OSHA is taking a close look at the issue when they inspect healthcare facilities.
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Wellness Programs can Improve Health, Reduce Cost for HCWs with Diabetes
Diabetes in healthcare workers is a major driver of medical insurance costs, as the chronic blood sugar disorder can set off a range of health problems and increase risk of stroke and heart disease.
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Hospital Employees Living with Diabetes
Beyond the numbers on the debilitating effects of diabetes on healthcare workers, there are personal stories of success that may inspire others to join wellness programs.
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Respirator and Surgical Mask Myths and Controversies
As part of its recent annual N95 Day respirator activities, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health sought to bust several myths about respiratory protection, including the misconception that “respirators and surgical masks provide the same type and level of protection for the user.”
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Surgical Group Calls for No Scrubs Beyond the Hospital
In the name of patient safety, we have heard calls for “bare below the elbows” care in hospital wards, and now the American College of Surgeons is strongly urging surgical workers to drop the common practice of wearing scrubs in public.