JCAHO institutes new influenza vaccine standard
JCAHO has instituted an infection control standard that requires accredited organizations to offer influenza vaccinations to staff. The standard takes effect Jan. 1, 2007 for the Critical Access Hospital, Hospital and Long Term Care accreditation programs.
The Joint Commission developed the standard in response to recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention making the reduction of influenza transmission from health care professionals to patients a top priority. Studies show that influenza causes 36,000 deaths and over 200,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. annually, with healthcare-associated transmission documented among many patient populations in a variety of clinical settings. Infections have been linked to unvaccinated health care workers, with fewer than 40 percent of healthcare workers immunized each year.
The new Joint Commission standard requires organizations to:
- Establish an annual influenza vaccination program that includes at least staff and licensed independent practitioners
- Provide access to influenza vaccinations on-site
- Educate staff and licensed independent practitioners about flu vaccination, non-vaccine control measures (such as the use of appropriate precautions)and diagnosis, transmission and potential impact of influenza
- Annually evaluate vaccination rates and reasons for non-participation in the organization’s immunization program
The Joint Commission developed the standard in response to recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention making the reduction of influenza transmission from health care professionals to patients a top priority. Studies show that influenza causes 36,000 deaths and over 200,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. annually, with healthcare-associated transmission documented among many patient populations in a variety of clinical settings. Infections have been linked to unvaccinated health care workers, with fewer than 40 percent of healthcare workers immunized each year.
The new Joint Commission standard requires organizations to:
- Establish an annual influenza vaccination program that includes at least staff and licensed independent practitioners
- Provide access to influenza vaccinations on-site
- Educate staff and licensed independent practitioners about flu vaccination, non-vaccine control measures (such as the use of appropriate precautions)and diagnosis, transmission and potential impact of influenza
- Annually evaluate vaccination rates and reasons for non-participation in the organization’s immunization program
posted by healthcare trainer at 3:27 PM
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