Sacred Heart Medical Center cited for violation of safety standards in H1N1 prevention
On January 29, 2010, Sacred Heart Medical Center was cited and fined $8,000 for failing to adhere to state and national H1N1 influenza safety standards.
The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) issued the citation and fine for violation of Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines on H1N1 and also for violation of the DOSH Directive on Enforcement Procedures for High or Very High Occupational Exposure Risk to the 2009 H1N1 Influenza.
L&I found the hospital to be in violation in eight specific instances and issued a fine for each violation, totaling $8,000 in fines. The findings were in response to a complaint filed in October of 2009 by the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) against Sacred Heart and its infection control policies regarding the use of N-95 respirators in treating suspected or diagnosed H1N1 patients. The N-95 respirators are recommended by the CDC for use when healthcare personnel are within 6 feet of suspected or confirmed H1N1 patients. Sacred Heart nurses were reporting difficulty accessing properly fit-tested N-95 masks in these circumstances.
“As a registered nurse who did have to care for diagnosed and suspected patients without the CDC recommended N-95 respirators, I was placing my patients and myself in danger of exposure to H1N1. The citation by L&I is a major victory for patient and nurse safety,” said Kristie Dimak, a registered nurse at Sacred Heart Medical Center.
“WSNA applauds L&I in holding Sacred Heart Medical Center accountable for not adhering to state and national H1N1 standards. I hope this citation serves as a wake-up call for all hospitals in Washington State to fully comply with flu prevention guidelines in order to ensure public and nurse safety,” said Christine Himmelsbach, MN, RN, WSNA Assistant Executive Director of Labor Relations.
Specific violations cited by L&I against Sacred Heart Medical Center include:
– Inadequate written respiratory protection program
– Not all employees who wear N-95 respirators have been fit tested or trained on an annual basis
– No provision for men with facial hair, which can interfere with the respirator seal of N-95 respirators
The hospital is required by law to post the citation on its health and safety bulletin board for three working days or until all violations are corrected, whichever time period is longer.
Source: Washington State Nurses Association
New research examines impact of health care reform on regional health plans
The Managed Care Executive Group (MCEG) and HTMS, with the help of Health Dialog, have jointly released a new report which examines strategic and operational priorities for 2010, as well as the potential impact of reform on regional health plans which composes the majority of the MCEG membership. Keeping ahead of operational and technology issues and knowing what priorities to focus on can help executives to act now so that they are not at a competitive disadvantage when the winds of reform settle.
The new report highlighted five strategic issues viewed as critical or important to the health plans surveyed, including:
– Overall cost of care
– The Government’s role in health care
– Demand for improved data analytics
– Increased collaboration with providers
– Increased collaboration between health operations and IT
The survey, which was administered in the fall by MCEG and HTMS, and its results are intended to serve as both a benchmark to regional health plans and a basis for more detailed and specific discussion at the MCEG 2010 Annual Forum taking place March 21-24 in Fort Lauderdale.
“The recent national debate has focused more on what is wrong with healthcare than what can be done to make healthcare better,” said Alan Abramson, the Chairman of MCEG. “President Obama has cited accomplishments and unique changes that many smaller, more regional health plans have been able to accomplish — and can do — to uniquely impact the future of healthcare for the better. This broad study of regional health plan priorities — and the compilation of specific actions and activities that health plans can take to move healthcare forward — is a ‘must read’ for everyone involved in the industry, including the media, those in politics at the State and Federal level, and all executives dedicated to improving healthcare.”
To download a copy of the webcast “Benchmarking Health Plans for Strategy, Operations & Reform” and/or the White Paper Report “Regional Health Plans & Reform: The 2010 Agenda” visit www.MCEG.net.
To participate in further discussions on reform implications, join us at the MCEG 2010 Annual Forum entitled “Reform + Evolution = Revolution” March 21-24 where our Keynote Speaker Dr. Mark McClellan, will kickoff the event with a comprehensive discussion on The Future of Health Care: Leading Change to Deliver Value, including his perspectives on reform — current & future implications.
In addition, at the Forum you will gain a personal, front-line, perspective on where healthcare reform is at and where it is going to, what evolving business technology trends are on the horizon, and potential implications for regional health plans. The Forum is structured with ample time for networking with colleagues, national thought leaders, and the keynote speakers so participants can gain a broad understanding of business technology and how it is evolving. Participants will benefit from a focused view of where the dramatic changes are going to take us in 2010 and beyond – with or without changes in legislation – via in-depth discussions with experts regarding recently passed or impending legislation, boardroom-style roundtable work sessions on evolving trends within business technology and operations, and keynote discussions bringing together the healthcare implications of “Reform” and “Evolution” for “regional” health plans and what the “Revolution” of healthcare will mean. Visit www.MCEG.net for more information on this event and to register.
Source: Managed Care Executive Group