Hospital Employee Health – February 1, 2014
February 1, 2014
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The high hazards of health care
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Health care workers still suffer 320,000 needlesticks a year
In the heady days after passage of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act in 2000, zero needlesticks was an aim worth striving for and some lofty goals were on the table. HealthyPeople 2010 set a goal of reducing needlesticks by 30% from a baseline of 384,000 among hospital-based health care workers in 1998 to 269,000 in 2010. -
AOHP highlights best practices' in sharps safety
The Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP) survey on needlesticks included the following key tips and strategies to reduce sharps injuries. -
Setting the ultimate safety benchmark
Rather than compare needlestick rates with other hospitals, she looks at her own injury trends. "Zero needlesticks is my goal," says Dicristina. "It doesn't matter to me how many employees I have because if you're the employee who gets stuck, it's catastrophic." -
Heavy lifting still brings toll of injuries
MSD goal: Reduce the rate of injury and illness cases involving days away from work due to overexertion or repetitive motion by 10% by 2020. -
CDC: Document measles immunity of HCWs
Despite widespread vaccination against measles, some health care workers remain susceptible and they have a much greater chance of contracting the disease than the general public, according to a recent report. -
Supervisors are key to creating safety climate
Safety culture" has been an important buzzword in occupational health for many years. But recent research shows that the broad goal has one key component: The attitude of supervisors. -
CDC: Influenza shots prevent hospitalizations
Here's another reason to emphasize influenza vaccination in long-term care: Last year, vaccination prevented an estimated 44,000 flu-related hospitalizations among older people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. -
Free health appraisal boosts RN wellness
It has become easier than ever for the nation's nurses to monitor their health both personal and occupational. And this new knowledge may put a sharper spotlight on hazards nurses face every day at work. -
Do your isolation rooms have proper ventilation?
When employee health professionals work to reduce the occupational risk of tuberculosis, respiratory protection is a major part of their efforts. But as a health hazard evaluation shows, improving ventilation is another important consideration. -
Update: Joint statement on vaccine mandates