Hospital Employee Health – December 1, 2014
December 1, 2014
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Ebola outbreak underscores weakness in worker safety
The recent Ebola infection of two Dallas nurses raises troubling questions about how prepared hospitals are to protect their employees from infectious diseases and whether the health care industry needs a higher level of worker safety.OSHA infectious disease rule moves forward
While a Dallas hospital struggled to care for the nations first Ebola case, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration quietly issued a draft of an infectious disease standard designed to protect health care workers. The proposed rule would make infection control measures mandatory and would add new requirements for hazard identification, exposure control, and documentation.Employee health professionals step up, lead hospital efforts to protect HCWs from Ebola
As news shows broadcast seemingly endless loops about Ebola, every community in America wanted to know: Is my local hospital ready to safely handle an Ebola patient?CDC forms Ebola response teams, drops expectation that all hospitals can care for patients
Faced with fear and brewing rebellion in the health carecommunity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dropped its stance that any U.S. hospital can take care of an Ebola patient in favor of rapid response teams.CDC cites high-risk procedures like intubation in adding respirators to Ebola PPD for HCWs
While emphasizing that Ebola does not spread by the airborne route, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising in new infection control guidelines that health care workers wear N95 respirators or powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) for treating patients stricken with the deadly virus.Ebola pushes nurses stress, anxiety levels higher as many doubt their hospital is prepared
Nurses nationwide recently expressed fear and anxiety over the possibility of having to treat Ebola patients in hospitals they claim are poorly equipped. In a national teleconference call in October, thousands of nurses called in to hear and share information about how health systems are responding to the Ebola crisis.Employee health professionals can use social media, Internet to boost staff health
Hospital employee health professionals should consider using social media and Internet communications and campaigns to electronically promote safety and health for health care workers.Massachusetts nurses union files suit against hospital, says flu shot mandate goes beyond law
In a legal challenge that could set a precedent for flu shot mandates, the Massachusetts Nurses Association has filed suit challenging a proposed mandatory flu vaccination policy at Brigham & Womens Hospital in Boston. Under the policy, workers can forego the flu shot for medical or religious reasons, but otherwise could be subjected to discipline that could include job termination, the union charges in the suit.