[MCOH-EH] MCOH-EH Digest, Vol 251, Issue 91-mandatory Flu Policy
Diane Shaw
diane.shaw at tuality.org
Tue May 24 11:38:18 PDT 2016
In Oregon, it is against the law to mandate vaccinations for employment. Mandatory masking within 6 feet s of a patient is required for unvaccinated HCWs once we see the flu activity in the state reach a certain threshold, and it is continued until flu activity falls below the threshold and sustains itself at that level. This year we masked from 10/30/15-4/28/16!
We start vaccinating the last week of September with a campaign that lasts for 2 weeks. After that, I will offer vaccination by appointment until it expires, which is usually in June.
We require either proof of vaccination or a declination from all HCWs by November 1st. We have not been able to establish any consequence for non-compliance, at this point, that would not impact patient safety. The department managers are notified on Nov. 1st of their staff members who have not submitted a document and they are responsible for contacting them until they have complied.
Diane M. Shaw, RN, BSN, CIC, COHN-S
Tuality Healthcare
Employee Health Services
335 S.E. 8th Ave
Hillsboro, OR 97123
Phone: 503.681.1444
Fax: 503.681.4170
Tues.-Fri. 0730-1700 hours
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Sent: Friday, May 20, 2016 6:11 AM
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Subject: MCOH-EH Digest, Vol 251, Issue 91
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Today's Topics:
1. Mandatory Flu Policy (Kanchan Dibert)
2. Re: Mandatory Flu Policy (Thrasher, Terri)
3. Re: Mandatory Flu Policy (Jenkins, Maribeth)
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 20 May 2016 08:24:40 -0400
From: "Kanchan Dibert" <Kanchan.Dibert at caromonthealth.org>
To: <mcoh-eh at mylist.net>
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Mandatory Flu Policy
Message-ID: <573EC9C802000037000744B2 at gwgwia.gmh.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
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
caromonthealth.org
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This message and any included attachments are from CaroMont Health Inc. and are intended only for the addressee(s).The information contained herein may include trade secrets or privileged or otherwise confidential information. Unauthorized review, forwarding, printing, copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you received this message in error, or have reason to believe you are not authorized to receive it, please promptly delete this message and notify the sender by e-mail with a copy to mailadmin at caromonthealth.org
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 20 May 2016 12:53:30 +0000
From: "Thrasher, Terri" <Terri.Thrasher at cchmc.org>
To: MCOH/EH <mcoh-eh at mylist.net>
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] Mandatory Flu Policy
Message-ID:
<6D0F651D183C00439FDA321943976C134A477045 at MCEXMB1.chmccorp.cchmc.org>
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At Cincinnati Childrens the flu vaccine is mandatory.
We give approx. 8 weeks to receive the vaccine. If not completed by the deadline you get a warning and you have a week to complete it. If not complete in a week you get suspended for 2 weeks.. If not completed in 2 weeks you are termed.
We do give warnings to our MD's but we do not suspend them. However we do terminate them if they do not comply.
We accept declination if demonstrated allergy to vaccine component other than egg.
We accept declination for GBS if they have a documented date of the flu vaccine and GBS diagnosed within 6 weeks of that flu shot.
We do not use masks... it becomes too much of a burden to try to manage it so its effective.
From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net] On Behalf Of Kanchan Dibert
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2016 8:25 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
-----------------------------------------
This message and any included attachments are from CaroMont Health Inc. and are intended only for the addressee(s).The information contained herein may include trade secrets or privileged or otherwise confidential information. Unauthorized review, forwarding, printing, copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you received this message in error, or have reason to believe you are not authorized to receive it, please promptly delete this message and notify the sender by e-mail with a copy to mailadmin at caromonthealth.org<mailto:mailadmin at caromonthealth.org>
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 20 May 2016 13:03:53 +0000
From: "Jenkins, Maribeth" <mjenkins at hendrickhealth.org>
To: "mcoh-eh at mylist.net" <mcoh-eh at mylist.net>
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] Mandatory Flu Policy
Message-ID:
<582df1668e4749d88a1171be0446f3f6 at EXMBX2.hhs.hendrickhealth.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
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
-----------------------------------------
This message and any included attachments are from CaroMont Health Inc. and are intended only for the addressee(s).The information contained herein may include trade secrets or privileged or otherwise confidential information. Unauthorized review, forwarding, printing, copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you received this message in error, or have reason to believe you are not authorized to receive it, please promptly delete this message and notify the sender by e-mail with a copy to mailadmin at caromonthealth.org<mailto:mailadmin at caromonthealth.org>
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