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Asked about budget woes and cutbacks widely reported by infection preventionists, the president of the Joint Commission said surveyors are not seeing "any substantial increase in problems due to reduced staffing in these critical programs."
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In anticipation of a possible significant increase in demand for emergency services due to H1N1 influenza resurgence this fall many hospitals have expressed significant concerns about compliance with "patient dumping" laws, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reports.
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An Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel recently recommended that fit-tested N95 respirators rather than surgical masks be worn by health care workers treating H1N1 pandemic influenza A patients.
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To an "IP Newbie," review and updating of infection prevention and control policy and procedures (P&P) can be a daunting and superficially unrewarding task. Nevertheless, it is a vital duty and one that you must honor without fail.
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When we caught up with Sue Sebazco, RN, she was knee-deep in pandemic flu planning, but not necessarily missing the old days when infection preventionists and seemingly everybody else was busily working in their respective silos.
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With a vaccine on the way, it may be tempting to downplay the threat of pandemic H1N1 influenza A as it moves out of the Southern Hemisphere to spread in more favorable fall and winter conditions in the United States.
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The proposed federal bill HR 3200 America's Affordable Health Choices Act includes a section requiring reporting of health care-associated infections (HAIs). Key provisions are summarized as follows:
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The nuts and bolts of pandemic planning involve quantifiable items: Ventilators, respirators, antiviral medications, vaccine doses. But in the midst of drills and stockpiles and vaccine campaigns, don't forget about the psychosocial needs of your frontline employees.
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With a vaccine shortage projected for novel H1N1 influenza A, only the highest priority groups are likely to be offered the shot when initial lots are cleared for distribution this fall.
