[MCOH-EH] N95 Fit Testing Process

[Thanassi, Wendy]

Nursing competencies are often done on an annual basis so it can be a successful strategy to align OH exams like Fit testing with competencies. 

That said, the American Thoracic Society, the Infectious Disease Society of the Americas AND the CDC AGREE that TB testing should not be done on an annual basis... only with known exposure to active TB. (just my TB 2c :) )

Wendy Thanassi MA, MD
Chief, OH 
Palo Alto VAHCS
Sunny California

-----Original Message-----
From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net] On Behalf Of Leibu, Rachel
Sent: Friday, May 19, 2017 2:49 PM
To: MCOH/EH
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [MCOH-EH] N95 Fit Testing Process

It is not a good idea to do TST testing if all employees at the same time- you reduce the ability for early identification of  unknown TB exposures.

Sent from my iPhone

On May 19, 2017, at 4:18 PM, Rainey, Richard <rrainey at tgh.org<mailto:rrainey at tgh.org>> wrote:

Hi Amy!  Happy Friday!

In my previous organization, Lee Health (formerly Lee Memorial Health System), they had a staff nurse on each floor complete TB and FIT testing requirements every year for their unit.  It also had its pros and cons but  it seemed to work well.

TGH has had some thought around making Annual evals at the same time every year but no decisions have been made yet.  Our director, JoAnn Shea, had the same thought as you though to get them all done in one month.

Another way we thought of was to visit unit education blocks/staff meetings to get a good percentage of staff at one time.  TGH Education blocks are mandatory and are usually every other month for each unit so it's the perfect time to get them.

Let us know what you decide to do.  It's always interesting to find out what other organizations are doing.

Richard R. Rainey
HRIS Analyst II for
Employee Health & Wellness Services,
Workers' Compensation and Leave's/FMLA
RRainey at TGH.org<mailto:RRainey at TGH.org>
<image001.jpg>
PO Box 1289
Tampa, FL 33601
Office: 813-844-8248
Fax: 813-844-4034
TGH.org<http://TGH.org>

From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces+rrainey=tgh.org at mylist.net] On Behalf Of Amy Olson
Sent: Friday, May 19, 2017 3:41 PM
To: 'MCOH/EH' <mcoh-eh at mylist.net<mailto:mcoh-eh at mylist.net>>
Subject: [MCOH-EH] N95 Fit Testing Process

Happy Friday,
We are moving to a new performance management system. Currently employees are evaluated in the month of their hire date. All of their annual requirements (fit testing, competencies, etc.) are to be completed prior to their review and if they are not completed the employee does not receive any increases they may be entitled to until it is completed. This has worked fairly well in ensuring people keep up on their requirements. The new system will have everyone being reviewed in the same time frame. We are looking at whether it would make sense to do the same with our fit testing. Designate a month and crank out all the fit tests and be done. Then you address new hires as they start. There are pros and cons to either method.

What are you all doing? What has worked well? Would you change? Have you recently switched to one system or the other? If so, why? Really any pearls relative to this experience would be most appreciated.

Amy Olson, BSN, MS, COHN-S
Director, Employee Health and Wellness
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
500 Seventh Avenue South, Suite 103
St. Petersburg, FL  33701
P 727-767-8211 | F 727-767-8399
aolson9 at jhmi.edu<mailto:aolson9 at jhmi.edu>
www.HopkinsAllChildrens.org<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.hopkinsallchildrens.org_&d=DwMFAg&c=WxSiHUljzaZa6AO7gfNF1nsjLMo-cFTcJAt_xkKy0sg&r=dAD7CPUki6cfTAjUVJ_3oA&m=qtNDfJaTlpOG3thVDtPNFOxx8KYL8LJ1eFWre1KdB-k&s=Qyixn7JwFY0AGGExQn0KBf6vtSswMZq12-jXeDwZmTs&e=>

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