NUHEALTH/NUMC INTENSIFIES FLU PREVENTION EFFORTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2013
PRESS CONTACT:
Shelley Lotenberg
shelley@numc.edu
516-572-6055
NUHEALTH/NUMC Intensifies Flu Prevention Efforts
Flu Shots and Surgical Facemasks Part of Effort to Stem Flu
East Meadow, NY………Flu season is here and this year NuHealth/Nassau University Medical Center is taking additional steps to prevent the spread of flu, including enhanced efforts to vaccinate all employees and distribution of surgical facemasks. Worn by employees, these offer a physical barrier to flu transmission. This is a comprehensive endeavor to protect patients, visitors, and employees from exposure to the flu virus.
While an annual flu vaccine remains the single best method for preventing the flu, a surgical facemask, worn by employees, provides added protection to patients, employees, and visitors. NUMC offers the flu vaccine to all employees and, beginning this year, also provides employees with surgical facemasks, as required by recent guidance from the New York State Department of Health.
As a matter of standard practice, NUMC enforces universally-recognized precautions to prevent the flu. These include hand washing, the use of hand sanitizers, placed conveniently throughout the hospital, as well as goggles, and gowns. In addition, NUMC adheres to rigorous infection control guidelines and policies every day to ensure a clean environment for patients, staff, and visitors. These practices are especially important during flu season. Antiseptic wipes are located in patient rooms, work stations, hallways, and other treatment areas and are easily accessible to hospital employees responsible for sanitizing medical equipment and surface areas.
During last year’s flu season, the New York State Department of Health recorded 45,352 confirmed flu cases, 9,537 patients hospitalized and 14 pediatric deaths from influenza. Yet, despite all these precautions and proactive steps, the flu virus still manages to infect individuals. Employees suffering from the flu are instructed to stay home while sick and return to work 24 hours after their flu symptoms end. Visitors who suspect they may have the flu are advised to not visit the hospital. The signs and symptoms of the flu include:
• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Sore Throat
• Runny nose
• Body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (very tired)
• Vomiting/diarrhea
“Flu prevention is a priority at our hospital and our employees work every day to lessen the spread of flu virus by adhering to strict infection control practices and prevention guidelines,” said Steven J. Walerstein, MD, FACP, chief medical officer for the NuHealth System. “Starting this year, hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities must document the number and percentage of personnel vaccinated against the flu to state and federal authorities.”
ABOUT NUHEALTH
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life. Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community. By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.
For more information about NuHealth or its Centers of Care, visit www.nuhealth.net.