Douglas County H1N1 updates
Jeff Novorr, Lawrence Memorial Hospital vice president, said two people have been hospitalized at LMH since Aug. 23 with confirmed cases of swine flu.
Novorr gave an update on the hospital’s plans and actions concerning the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, during LMH’s monthly Board of Trustee meeting this morning.
Besides the two hospitalizations, he said seven people had been hospitalized with swine flu symptoms, but the cases were not confirmed.
Meanwhile, LMH received 500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine and will begin offering them Friday morning to staff who are in direct contact with patients. They are encouraging staff to get the vaccine and will be tracking if they don’t receive it.
"We are tracking individuals who do not get the vaccine as a result of a Joint Commission, our accrediting body, requirement that requires us to get validation from anyone who chooses not to get the vaccine. No one is required to get the vaccine as a condition of employment, and the information we collect is used strictly for meeting accreditation requirements," Novorr said.
The hospital also has been working with the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department on plans for distributing the vaccine to the public. Novorr said 17 nurses had volunteered to help with the clinics and another 13 were on a waiting list to help.
The hospital has a pandemic committee that meets on a regular basis. Novorr said LMH is prepared to handle an influx of patients and has ample supplies.
LMH also is encouraging staff members to stay home if sick and to not return to work until the fever has been gone for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
“It’s a continually evolving process,” he said.
Comments
Christina Hoffman 7 years, 9 months ago
so they can tell those employees sorry you cant have sick days for that, you should have gotten the vaccine. :)
Bobbi Walls 7 years, 9 months ago
rumor has it that my daughters school has 13 kids out of one class gone with the flu...that's almost half the class.
Nde 7 years, 9 months ago
dbrm4ever2006: what school in reference to the rumor.
and this news is released on the day of the 1st vaccine clinic. great way to scare people into getting the vaccine.
Bobbi Walls 7 years, 9 months ago
woodlawn
lweinmaster 7 years, 9 months ago
How many cases of H1N1 will be created by the live nasal vaccine? The package insert states those who take the live nasal vaccine should stay away from immunocompromised persons. Hmmmm, my son and I have auto immune disease and a compromised immune system, how will I know who to stay away from. The live H1N1 nasal vaccine will cause the pandemic it is created to prevent.
justsayin77 7 years, 9 months ago
LMH is tracking those who decline the vaccine for only one reason: it's a regulatory requirement. JCAHO, the organization that accredits hospitals, requires that we track the number of individuals who don't take the vaccine.
emptymind 7 years, 9 months ago
Those who are immunosuppressed should be safe and not get the nasal spray vaccine, as it contains a live virus. If you think you want to get vaccinated, try to wait for an injectable dead virus version.
Karrey Britt 7 years, 9 months ago
To dethomps — Thank you for clarifying the regulatory requirement. Also those cases were the ones reported between Aug. 23 and today.
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