Hospital Employees Commit to Flu Vaccination


In the healthcare industry annual flu vaccine has become a standard of care and recognized as a best practice amongst care providers. Beginning this year William Newton Hospital (WNH) has established a requirement of hospital employees to receive the "flu shot."

"William Newton Hospital is focused on providing our patients with the highest quality of care," said Ben Quinton, CEO, William Newton Hospital. "This newly implemented policy only reaffirms WNH's caring philosophy for our patients, employees, physicians, co-workers and family members, both young and old alike."

Other area hospitals have made the flu shot mandatory for their employee base. Such hospitals include Via Christi, Pratt Medical Center, Sumner County Hospital District #1 and several others.

Influenza is a highly communicable disease. While it is possible to contract it all year, infection rates and the severity of symptoms worsen during what is commonly called "flu season" in the winter months.

Scientific studies show that as many as 1 in 2 infected people never show classic flu symptoms, but can shed virus for 5-10 days. This means that asymptomatic personnel can unknowingly spread influenza to patient, co-worker and personal contacts. These facts coupled with an industry-wide shift to mandatory flu vaccination have led WNH to make a policy change.

As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), WNH has established an immunization date of November 14 for all employees. In 2015 the immunization date will be moved up to October 1. WNH employees have been given and will continue to have multiple access points to receive the vaccination at no cost to them. Family members of employees are also given the opportunity to access discounted flu shots, at the hospital's scheduled employee flu shot clinic.

"If an employee contracts influenza they put patients, fellow staff and their own family at serious risk," said Connie Schaefer, RN CIC, Infection Preventionist and Employee Health Coordinator at WNH. "We as a facility have an obligation to minimize that risk - vaccination is a proactive response which will lead to a healthier flu season for everyone at WNH. It's the right thing to do."

WNH employees who are medically unable or decline the vaccination will be given surgical masks to wear at work during the defined "flu season" as a form of protection. Hand hygiene is also a basic and ongoing prevention method expected of all staff and strongly encouraged of hospital visitors.

"I encourage everyone in the community, who is able, to get the flu vaccination," Schaefer added. "If you've experienced influenza before you know it is to be avoided. Furthermore, you certainly don't want to be responsible for infecting those around you."

Contact: Kaydee Johnson, William Newton Hospital - 620.222.6276

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