Hospital Employee Health – March 1, 2022
March 1, 2022
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Pandemic Presenteeism: CA Says HCWs with COVID-19 Can Skip Isolation
A California public health policy allowing asymptomatic healthcare workers with COVID-19 to remain on duty sparked outrage among some nurses, who say it threatens their prime mission to protect and care for patients. -
An Epidemic of Long COVID May Be the Legacy of Omicron
The loosening of COVID-19 policies and shortening duration of precautions signal the emergence of what some call the “inevitability camp”: those who believe everyone will contract the rapidly spreading omicron variant, thereby generating herd immunity. There is one major problem with this view. It is becoming increasingly apparent that 14% (estimated range 2%-30%) of those infected with omicron will develop long COVID, a prolonged set of neurological and physical maladies that have haunted some people since the pandemic began in 2020. -
Supreme Court Upholds Healthcare Vaccine Mandate
Hospitals still struggling to vaccinate all workers received good news on Jan. 13, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the federal government can enforce its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. Justices threw out two lawsuits representing more than 20 states, ruling that mandating COVID-19 vaccination of healthcare workers is within the limits of federal law. -
Can New Antivirals Against COVID-19 Solve Staff Shortages?
One answer to the healthcare staffing shortages could be a newly developed antiviral that works against SARS-CoV-2 much like influenza antivirals negate the symptoms of flu. -
Tips for Passing an OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Inspection
The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard has been on the books for decades. But exposure control plans — the principal component of compliance — should be viewed as a “living document” that changes over time, a needlestick prevention expert noted. -
Racism Reported by Nurses, Physicians
Are nurses and physicians of color at your facility at risk of occupational racism? Employee health professionals should be aware of two recent reports that cited racial incidents, which negatively affected productivity and emotional wellness.