[MCOH-EH] Mandatory Flu Policy

[Jenkins, Maribeth]

Good morning, my policy is below for your reference. It is enforced with all employees, regardless of role- they do wear a mask if the exemption is approved, and we set the deadline, usually we do 5 days of 12 hour clinics with the deadline as the day after in October.  All staff know well in advance when these dates are and leadership makes it very well understood and supports-
We did a lot of work to get here, so if you have specific questions, please feel free to contact me directly.
Maribeth Jenkins, MSN, RN, LMT, CWC
Employee Wellness Manager
Hendrick Medical Center
1900 Pine Street
Abilene, TX 79601
Phone: (325) 670-3010
Fax: (325) 670-3051
mjenkins at hendrickhealth.org<mailto:mbunn at hendrickhealth.org>
www.ehendrick.org


     Influenza Vaccination:

1. All employees of Hendrick Medical Center and Affiliates, all volunteers, all contracted
employees, and all students are to be immunized against influenza annually or as may be
recommended by the CDC /ACIP and approved by the Hendrick Infection Control and
Prevention department unless an exemption has been granted as described below.

2. Influenza vaccine is available free of charge to all employees and volunteers. This
program is coordinated by the Hendrick Employee Wellness office (EW).

3. Individuals who are vaccinated through services other than EW (i.e. private physician
offices etc.) are to provide proof of immunization to EW. Proof of immunization may
include a physician's signed note or a receipt and is subject to approval by EW.

PART A. Employees, Students, and Volunteers

1. Covered individuals who have been granted an exemption (described below), filed a
request for an exemption, or who have not been vaccinated are required to wear a surgical
mask at all times in all patient care areas while at work during the influenza season.
2. Patient care areas are defined as, but not limited to all inpatient units, trauma center,
clinics, patient intake areas, laboratory areas, procedural/treatment/interventional/imaging
sites.
3. Influenza season typically occurs sometime from November through March. The exact
dates for the mask requirement will be determined annually when significant influenza is
identified in the community. The exact dates will be determined by the Physician Chair
of the Infection Prevention and Control Committee and will be communicated to covered
individuals.
4. Employee personnel not in compliance with this policy will be subject to disciplinary
action up to and including termination. Volunteers not in compliance will be required to
wear the designated PPE as described above during the declared influenza season
Contracted care providers and students not in compliance by the announced date will not
be allowed to provide care during the designated influenza season.

PART B. Employee Wellness and Department of Education
1. These areas will maintain a record of influenza immunization, exemption requests and
religious, or medical exemptions granted for all covered individuals.
2. Annual immunizations are to begin when sufficient stock of vaccine is on hand and will
continue based on availability and prioritized scheduling if needed.

PART C. Infection Prevention and Control
1. The Infection Preventionist in consultation with Employee Welness Services and the
Physician Chair of Infection Prevention will determine:
The specific areas considered patient care.
- If requirements to wear a mask are expanded beyond patient care areas.
- The types of masks or other personal protective equipment required.
- The number and type of vaccines required.
- The deadline for receiving vaccine.
2. In the event of an influenza vaccine shortage, the ICP will consult with EW, Human
Resources, Pharmacy, Hospital Administration, the VP of Medical Affairs and other
departments as necessary to determine:
- Vaccine eligibility based on job function and risk of exposure to influenza.
- Prioritization of hands-on patient care with prolonged face-to-face contact
and/or other factors determining highest risk exposure.
- Requirements of PPE use of non-vaccinated covered individuals.

PART D. Exemption Requests

1.     Exemption from immunization may be granted for certain medical contraindications as established based on recommendations from the CDC/ACIP.
All covered individuals requesting exemptions due to medical
contraindications must provide the completed approved form provided by
Employee Health Services.
- If an exemption is granted for a temporary condition, the individual must
resubmit a request for the exemption at the time of the next required
vaccination. If an exemption is granted for a permanent condition (i.e.
anaphylactic allergy or history of Guillan-Barre) the exemption does not need
to be requested each year unless vaccine technology would change to
eliminate that exemption.
- Each request for medical exemption, regardless of the reason, is to be
evaluated and approved by Employee Health Services.
2. Any request for exemption from immunization on the basis of religious objection is to be
submitted on the appropriate, completed, approved form to Employee Health Services as
appropriate. Such requests are to be submitted annually and will be maintained.
3. Exemption from immunization requests are required to be submitted prior to the date
determined and announced by the Infection Prevention and Control Committee each year.
Individuals who have not made an exemption request by that date will be considered to
be in noncompliance with the policy.
4. Employee Health Services will provide a copy of the approved exemption to employees.
Employees are to present the exemption documentation to their supervisors. Student exemptions will be maintained in the Department of Education.


From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net] On Behalf Of Kanchan Dibert
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2016 7:25 AM
To: mcoh-eh at mylist.net
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Mandatory Flu Policy

List,
My hospital is making the transition to mandatory flu vaccination. Would anyone be willing to share your policy for disciplinary action and how you enforce it, especially for physicians? Also, do you require mask compliance for those who are not immunized? Do you require vaccination by Dec. 1st, Dec. 15th, Jan 1st?

Thank you!
Kanchan


Kanchan P. Dibert MD
Medical Director, CaroMont Occupational Medicine and Employee Health
2555 Court Drive, Suite 120
Gastonia, NC 28054
Phone: 704.834.3070
Fax: 704.834. 3073
kanchan.dibert at caromonthealth.org<mailto:kanchan.dibert at caromonthealth.org>
caromonthealth.org







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