Though the risk of seroconversion to bloodborne infection remains “rare but real,” it is striking to see how many health care workers are still enduring the agony and uncertainy of needlesticks and sharps injuries. The Centers for Disease Control and…
Measles cases in the U.S. rose to the highest level in 15 years in 2011, posing a particular risk to both hospital patients and health care workers. Last year, there were 222 reported cases and 17 outbreaks. That included four…
Mandatory influenza vaccination programs continue to gain traction at hospitals around the country. Though outright termination policies are still rare, more and more facilities are invoking some level of consequences for health care workers who refuse shots. A survey…
Hospitals gearing up for their annual influenza immunization campaigns this fall have a greater emphasis on mandatory policies to achieve the highest possible coverage of employees. A recent advisory from the American Hospital Association gives the push toward mandatory vaccination of health…
A proposed National Quality Forum measure may standardize the way hospitals calculate their health care worker influenza immunization rates. Currently, when hospitals report their influenza immunization rates, both the numerator and denominator may vary widely. Are they counting…
Health care workers who want to “do the right thing” must be supported by a culture change that recognizes infection prevention as a system problem that warrants a system solution, said Elaine Larson, PhD, professor of pharmaceutical and therapeutic Research…
Conceding its current standards are out of touch with the growing pressure to protect patients by immunizing health care workers (HCWs) against seasonal influenza, the Joint Commission is proposing what appear to be generally more rigorous requirements that are open…