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High immunization rates among HCPs needed to protect patients from disease
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NEW YORK — Adequate immunization of health care providers is needed to best protect patients, according to a presenter here at the 26th Annual Infectious Diseases in Children Symposium.
There are a plethora of reasons for keeping employee immunizations records and maintaining high vaccination rates among health care providers (HCPs), according to Ed Septimus, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA.
Ed Septimus
The most important rationale for vaccination of HCPs, he said, is that vaccination of transmissible infectious diseases protects both patients and HCPs from illness and death.
“I believe it’s an ethical and moral obligation for us to prevent transmission of infectious diseases to our patients,” Septimus said. “Especially during respiratory season, we must keep our physicians and staff healthy because that is when our patients need us most.”
Vaccinating HCPs also prevents missed work days during outbreaks, which would further negatively impact patient care. Despite this potential impact, immunization rates for ACIP-recommended vaccines remain low among HCPs.
“Mandatory programs are necessary where voluntary programs fail to significantly increase HCP vaccination rates,” Septimus said. “ACIP-recommended vaccines are proven to be safe, effective and cost-saving.”
Educational programs can help increase HCP compliance with vaccination programs. However, as the single strategy, study results have shown that educational programs do not achieve levels to assure herd immunity.
Septimus also said that physicians have to stand behind their immunization recommendations: “You should be doing what you’re recommending. The inflection in your voice and body language is important because patients will pick up on your cues if you are not passionate about what you are recommending for them.”
To improve and maintain employee health, Septimus said every practice should aim to have the following key components and goals:
- Employee satisfaction and retention;
- Health and safety education;
- Clear policies and guidelines;
- Strategies to prevent communicable diseases and injuries;
- Immunization program;
- Counseling;
- Collaboration with infection control;
- Ability to manage work-related illnesses, exposures and injuries; and
- Wellness programs.
“You should aim to have the same level of immunization of employees in office practice that is strived for in hospitals,” Septimus said.
For more information:
Septimus E. Presented at IDC NY 2013; Nov. 16-17, 2013; New York.
Disclosure: Septimus reports no relevant financial disclosures.