Hospital Employee Health – November 1, 2017
November 1, 2017
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Employee Health Steps Up as Hurricanes Hit Hospitals
Employee health professionals hunkered down with their hospital colleagues recently as hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit the contiguous United States and Hurricane Maria subsequently devastated Puerto Rico. While relief efforts were still underway in Puerto Rico as this issue went to press, Hospital Employee Health talked to employee health professionals who were on hospital duty in the path of Harvey and Irma.
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Evacuate: When Hurricane Sandy Forced HCWs to Flee
Five years ago Hurricane Sandy battered and inundated the Northeast, forcing the evacuation and shutdown of New York University’s Langone Medical Center in New York City. Hospital researchers recently published an analysis of how NYU nurses were affected by the event, suggesting planning strategies for hospitals affected by major storms and disasters.
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Severe Flu Season in Australia Could Herald U.S. Woes
The annual attempt to match the seasonal influenza vaccine with mutating flu viruses always is a bit of a gamble, and this year is no different. In particular, the U.S. vaccine may not provide complete immunity to an H3N2 strain that has caused serious infections during the summer season in Australia.
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Patient Mobility Forum Founded
A new safe patient handling forum is now online for employee professionals to ask questions or share ideas and policies with colleagues and industry.
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Flu Immunization Rates Level Off in Healthcare Workers
While hospital rates remain high, flu immunization rates of healthcare workers overall have leveled off and remain particularly low in long-term care, the CDC reports.
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If You Have a Needle Safety Device, Activate It
In 56% of needlesticks involving safety devices, the protective mechanism was not activated, the International Safety Center's Exposure Prevention Information Network reports.
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Emerging Fungus Can Colonize Skin for Months
Employee health professionals should be aware of an emerging new multidrug-resistant fungal “superbug,” Candida auris. This pathogen spreads more like bacteria than fungi and can colonize the skin for prolonged periods, the CDC reports.