News

April 2007
	New Bulletin Alliance Program A joint publication between OSHA and NIOSH/CDC titled, "Use of Blunt-tip Suture Needles to Decrease Percutaneous Injuries to Surgical Personnel" has been posted on either the OSHA or NIOSH web sites. The bulletin supports the use of blunt-tip suture needles in surgery when clinically appropriate. It was reviewed and incorporates recommendations from JCAHO, practicing surgeons, members of the American College of Surgeons, the Association of Peri-Operative Registered Nurses, OSHA regional offices, NIOSH, CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), academia, and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. The link to the OSHA news release with links to the SHIB on both the OSHA and the NIOSH WebPages is http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=14099 OSHA and NIOSH intend to promote the SHIB by wide dissemination to all stakeholders with an interest in surgical safety and would appreciate the assistance of Alliance Program participants, (e.g., JCAHO, AORN, AOHP, others) in ensuring that their members receive notice of this bulletin. OSHA highly value the role Alliance Programs play in the dissemination strategy.
March 2007
	Bev Hagar’s Hospital Wins National Influenza Vaccine Summit Announces Recipients of the 2007 Immunization Excellence Award The National Influenza Vaccine Summit announced the recipients of the first Annual National Influenza Vaccine Summit (NIVS) Immunization Excellence Awards including first place in the Healthcare Worker Campaign: Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. The awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions towards improved adult and/or childhood influenza vaccination rates within their communities. The Awards was presented at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Immunization Conference March 5, 2007, in Kansas City, MO. Virginia Mason Medical Center (VMMC), a vertically-integrated health care delivery system, achieved a 98 percent staff vaccination rate. VMMC instituted a mandatory influenza immunization fitness-for-duty policy for all employed staff and other individuals working in its facilities, including community physicians, vendors, volunteers and contingent labor. The organization-wide initiative was supported by physician and administrative executive leadership and the VMMC board of directors. The creativity of VMMC’s “flu team” resulted in the creation of respiratory protection kiosks at all entrance/access points system-wide, educational sessions and communications, a “double shot” campaign with a local coffee company, celebrity vaccinations, utilization of nurse and physician “Flu Champions,” deployment of “flu shot carts,” and engagement of staff across the organization. The program has now gained organization-wide acceptance and achievement of a high vaccination rate that can serve as a model nationwide. *Bev Hagar, BSN COHN-S, is the Employee Health Supervisor of Virginia Mason Medical Center and current President of AOHP Washington-Seattle Chapter.*
	Working Safely In Health Care A Practical Guide By Deborah Fell-Carlson, RN, MSPH, COHN-S, HEM Featuring chapter content written by nurses and health care safety professionals specifically for staff nurses and other bedside caregivers, this is the first resource of its kind. Providing information on how to perform their jobs without becoming patients themselves, this text introduces caregivers to hazards unique to the healthcare environment and provides practical measures to make the work safer. Readers are provided with easy-to-understand information on how to use transmission-based precautions to prevent infectious disease exposure, and are introduced to new and effective ways to move patients easily and safely. Useful prevention tips for other common healthcare risks, including hazardous substances, stress, workplace violence and shift work are also included. This text also contains career enhancing information such as how to select a safe employer, how to get involved to improve safety in the work setting, and worker rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Brief case examples demonstrate how the information might be applied in a given situation. Stop and Think boxes encourage reflection on how the knowledge presented might be applied in a different way or a different healthcare setting. Ideas for Action features contain practical suggestions to engage the reader in activities designed to effectively advocate for improved safety. Focus on Education boxes provide ideas for relevant safety related topics for patient and family teaching. Web Links provide Web addresses for further information Deb has served in a variety of safety and health leadership roles in health care and general industry over the past 30 years, as well as in a variety of nursing and nursing education roles. She has authored several occupational health and safety articles for professional journals, and has presented extensively at the national level on a variety of occupational health and safety topics. Deb is known for her enthusiasm, passion, and energy for worker safety and health in general, and for health care safety and health in particular. Save 20% On This Great Resource! CLICK HERE for order information!

September 2006
	'To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to reduce injuries to patients, direct-care registered nurses, and other health care providers by establishing a safe patient handling standard. ' Bill # H.R.6182 was introduced in Congress on September 26, 2006. The Congressional website indicates that the bill is still pending in two committees. For more information, you can click the link below. Click on this URL to take action now: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/bills/?billnum=H.R.6182&congress=109&size=full

August 2006
	2006 Sharps Injury Prevention Award Nominations ended September 30^th In every field of endeavor there are individuals who rise to the occasion and show great leadership. The Sharps Injury Prevention Award is given each year to individuals who are making a difference in prevention needlestick injuries and bloodborne pathogen exposure. The final date for nominations is September 30th. Since your organization has been involved in sharps safety you will have an opportunity of nominating clinicians that you believe have made a difference in reducing sharps injuries. In the past three years, ISIPS has presented 5-6 awards per year to worthy individuals that have really made a difference including Congressmen, Risk Managers, Nursing Supervisiors, Educators, etc. Please help them to identify these individuals by nominating them by clicking here or go to http://www.isips.org/nominate.php In addition, you can also receive the ISIPS Newsletter at no charge. It contains the most current information on sharps safety, needlestick injuries, HIV, Hepatitis, etc. Simply send an email to newsletter@isips.org to receive it.

July 2006
	New Online Calculator Shows Potential Lift Injury Savings for Healthcare Facilities July 25, 2006 A new online calculator has been launched for risk managers and safety officials at healthcare facilities nationwide. The calculator provides an estimate of potential "Return On Investment" (ROI) from the implementation of a safe lifting program and to help justify the investment of time, training, and capital equipment. It is available at www.SafeLiftingPortal.com/calculator. More info

June 2006
	New requirement to offer health care workers flu shots A new infection control standard requires hospitals, critical access hospitals, and long term care facilities to offer influenza vaccinations to staff, which include volunteers, and licensed independent practitioners. While vaccination of health care workers is the most effective measure for preventing health care-associated transmission of influenza, only about 35 percent of health care workers are vaccinated each year. Influenza causes approximately 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations annually in the United States. A number of professional societies and special interest groups support the vaccination of health care workers against influenza, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual influenza vaccination for health care workers who have close patient contact since 1984. The requirement is effective January 1, 2007. (Contact: Trudy Nash, tnash@jcaho.org)

April 2006
	Did you Get Your "Celebrate Nursing" Magnet? We found magnets are stuck on vehicles all over Pennsylvania. To honor and celebrate the critical role that Pennsylvania Registered Nurses play in delivering quality healthcare across the state, "Celebrate Nursing" awareness ribbon vehicle magnets are available to promote positive awareness of nursing profession just in time for National Nurses Week, May 6-12, 2006. Click here for more information

January 2006
	JCAHO Proposed Staff Influenza Immunization Standard Field Review Notice - posted on 01/20/2006 The Proposed Staff Influenza Immunization Standards field review period has been extended. The last day to complete the survey will be February 12, 2006. Click here for more information

December 2005
	CDC Issues New Guidelines for Detection of Tuberculosis; Recommends QuantiFERON-TB GOLD as Alternative to Traditional Skin Test. Posted on - 12/16/2005 Click here for more info
	ACIP Board Vacancies-Response Needed By 12/19/05
	The purpose of this correspondence is to solicit proposals for nominations for five vacancies on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. These vacancies will occur June 30, 2006. The positions being vacated presently are held by Dr. Judith Campbell, Dr. Reginald Finger, Dr. Janet Gilsdorf, Dr. Edgar Marcuse, and Dr. Gregory Poland. All nominees must be submitted to Dee Gardner by December 19, 2005. Selection of members will be based on their qualifications to contribute to the accomplishment of the committee’s objectives (www.cdc.gov/acip). Department of Health and Human Services policy provides that committee membership will be fairly balanced in terms of points of view represented and the committee’s function. Consideration will be given to a broad representation of geographic areas; nominations of women, ethnic and racial minority representatives and the handicapped are encouraged. Nominees must be U.S. citizens. Please submit your suggestions for nomination to the Committee, along with a letter of support and curriculum vitae, by December 19, 2005, to: Demetria Gardner Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-61 Atlanta, Georgia 30333 Ph: (404) 639-8836 Fax: (404) 639-8616
	133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition Update
	New Dates, Location, and Program Information Is December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Click here for more info

November, 2005
	Donation to Habitat for Humanity
	AOHP collected donations at the 2005 National Conference to help hurricane victims. Thanks to those conference attendees who contributed $792 to this worthy cause. The AOHP Board of Directors committed to match the donated amount. At the end of the conference they decided to round that amount up to $2,000. A contribution was sent to Harrison County Habitat for Humanity to help the Habitat families restore their homes to their pre-Katrina condition. Please click here to view the letter from Harrison County Habitat for Humanity.

October, 2005
	AHRQ releases new resources to help health care emergency responders
	The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released several new tools and models to aid emergency health care personnel during public health emergencies, such as hurricanes Katrina and Rita. They include standardized hospital bed definitions for organizations tracking the availability of beds; emergency preparedness models that provide guidance on personal protective equipment, decontamination, isolation/quarantine, and laboratory capacity; and an updated computer model for predicting the number and type of staff needed to respond to a major disease outbreak or bioterrorism attack on a given population. Additional disaster response tools and resources can be found on the AHRQ Web site.
	JCAHO, NQF Announce Patient Safety and Quality Awards
	The National Quality Forum (NQF) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations recently announced the 2005 recipients of the annual John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards. Honorees were selected in three of the four Award categories: Individual Achievement: Audrey L. Nelson, Ph.D., R.N. Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality at a National or Regional Level: Maryland Patient Safety Center, Maryland Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality at a Local or Organizational Level (2 Recipients): Meridian Health, New Jersey; Sentara Healthcare, Virginia and North Carolina. No award was given in the Research category. This year's awards will be presented at NQF's Sixth Annual Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, in Washington, DC. For more information about the awards winners or the program, visit http://www.jcaho.org/news+room/news+release+archives/05_eisenberg_award_winners.htm

Sep 2005
	Web site helps families locate Louisiana patients transferred in wake of Katrina -
	The Louisiana Hospital Association is preparing to launch a Website, www.lahospitals.net, to help families locate Louisiana hospital patients transferred to other hospitals in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Expected to be fully operational late today or early tomorrow, the site offers a searchable database that will be updated as LHA receives patient data from hospitals across the country. LHA also has posted to its Web site disaster-related information and instructions from health insurers and payers. In other news, LHA reports that Direct Relief International is offering donated pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to Louisiana hospitals. Interested hospitals can contact Dan Smith, program officer for the medical relief organization, at (805) 964-4767, ext.141 or dsmith@directrelief.org.

August 2005
	Nosocomial Burkholderia cepacia pneumonia associated with contaminated alcohol-free mouthwash -
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	Help Is Needed to Direct Occupational Safety and Health Research
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