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The infection prevention community has lost a high-placed ally, as Julie Gerberding, MD, has stepped down as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of the political changes of the new administration. A new director had not been named as this issue went to press.
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Most people in health care would agree that damage control is critical to the success of their productivity.
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Having cast a cold eye on hospitals, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will next develop plans to improve infection prevention in ambulatory settings and long-term care, Hospital Infection Control & Prevention has learned.
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Years ago, we tried to reach Ruth Carrico for a story and she came in from hospital curbside where she was running a drive-through flu shot campaign. The slogan? It wouldnt be the first time you killed a bug with your car.
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Major reform of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration may be delayed by the ailing economy, but it is inevitable as the agency needs to adapt to the workplace realities of the 21st century, according to the former heads of OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
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They say necessity is the mother of invention. But for health care providers, the inspiration for new safe patient handling devices has come from pain and discomfort and the desire to protect their colleagues from injury.
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One employee comes into your office with back strain due to patient lifting. Another is identified by the wellness program as having uncontrolled high blood pressure. Those two issues may seem completely unrelated. But with its WorkLife Initiative, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is urging employers to integrate workplace safety with personal health promotion.
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How do you know if your needlestick prevention program is working? A decrease in injuries is a good barometer but sometimes that could reflect a lack of reporting rather than an improvement in safety.
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OSHA issued a final rule in December clarifying that the agency can cite on a per-employee basis if an employer fails to provide personal protective equipment or training.
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Hospitals need federal oversight to ensure that their medical residents are not working excessive hours that could lead to hazardous levels of fatigue, an Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel has concluded.
