Did you know?
o In 2002, Seattle’s Virginia Mason Medical Center had a flu vaccination rate of 38 percent for health care workers through a voluntary program. The rate jumped to 98 percent in 2005 through a mandatory program with some waivers.
Source: Washington State Hospital Association
For Clark County’s two hospitals, fighting influenza includes enlisting their own employees in the campaign.
Southwest Washington Medical Center and Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center are among 94 of the state’s 98 hospitals that have adopted a new policy for employees.
They now require their health-care workers to either get immunized against the flu or take other flu-fighting measures to protect patients.
Unvaccinated workers may be asked to wear a mask while working with patients. They also could be kept away from patients, by being re-assigned to other duties or staying at home during an influenza outbreak.
Washington is the first state in the nation where nearly all the hospitals have jointly adopted flu immunization policies, according to a news release from the Washington State Hospital Association.
Voluntary campaigns haven’t worked, according to the hospital association, resulting in immunization rates below 50 percent for U.S. health care workers.
The new policy is helping boost the flu-shot rate at both Vancouver hospitals.
“We’re now at 70 percent. It was 57 percent last year,” said Ken Cole, spokesman at 3,333-employee Southwest Washington Medical Center.
“I’m seeing employees who have never been vaccinated before getting their first flu shot,” said Linda Heilweck, employee health nurse at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center.
The entire regional Legacy Health system — representing 9,500 employees — is up to 56.5 percent so far this year, said Dr. Minot Cleveland, medical director of employee health at Legacy Salmon Creek.
“That’s up from 52 percent in 2009 for regular flu,” Cleveland said. “We’re moving in the right direction. We’re hoping to get to 65 percent this year.”
The Legacy system hasn’t sorted out immunization rates yet for each medical center. The Portland-area hospitals are not part of the Washington policy change, but the whole Legacy system is in the middle of its own flu vaccination push.
One key is to make the healthy choice the easy choice, Cleveland said.
That means no-fuss opportunities to get flu shots without making appointments or checking immunization schedules. Some nurses even make the rounds with carts that are roving immunization centers, giving flu shots to employees they meet in the hallway.
“We’re hearing from employees that it’s very convenient and easy to get their flu shots this year,” said Heilweck, the Legacy Salmon Creek nurse.
“The education and publicity has been very effective for promoting the importance of being vaccinated for the flu,” she said.
Clark County Public Health established an even firmer flu-shot policy a year ago. Unvaccinated employees who are responsible for direct health care can’t come to work during a flu outbreak.
“They must use vacation time or take leave without pay,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, regional health officer.
Only three or four public health employees with direct-care responsibilities are unvaccinated.
“We’re not there yet,” said Cleveland, referring to the health department’s immunization policy. But it will be part of Legacy’s long-term discussion of flu-related topics, including absentee rates and employees who show up for work when they’re sick.
“They don’t want to let down their co-workers,” Cleveland said.
“There are legitimate medical reasons why some people can’t get flu shots,” said Cole, spokesman at Southwest Washington Medical Center.
Employees who seek waivers on religious grounds are asked to bring a letter signed by a pastor or congregation leader.
Employees who don’t get immunized must attend a 30-minute educational session, Cole said.
Working in health care is no guarantee that hospital employees are fans of flu shots, by the way.
“Some don’t believe in vaccinations,” said Cleveland. “Some say, ‘I don’t get the flu.’”
And let’s not forget an all-time favorite: “Some people hate shots.”
