PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center will require its health care workers who come into direct contact with patients to be vaccinated against the flu or wear masks beginning this fall.
Hospital commissioners voted 7-0 Wednesday to implement a new policy that includes a “vaccination choice program” for health care workers who deal directly with patients.
OMC officials hope the policy will drive up the vaccination rates and prevent the spread of H1N1 and seasonal flu.
Dr. Scott Kennedy, OMC’s chief medical officer, said health care workers can expose patients and colleagues to influenza before they even know they’re sick.
“It’s very important to take that element of exposure to our patients out of the picture,” Kennedy told the commissioners.
OMC’s new policy also requires health care workers who are sick to stay home.
Dr. Tom Locke, public health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties, said he supports OMC’s flu mask requirement for non-immunized health care workers.
“I definitely think it’s the right thing to do,” said Locke, who was reached by cell phone in Chicago.
“We regard it as a patient safety issue. It’s a duty for health care providers to do everything they can do to prevent the spread of influenza in hospitals. . . . I applaud the hospital for taking this step.”
The flu season typically begins in October. OMC’s new policy goes into effect when the flu season is declared.
“Once it arrives, employees must be either vaccinated or have declined vaccination,” Kennedy explained.
“If they decline vaccination, in order to provide direct patient care, they must mask up.”
Hospitals that have spearheaded similar policies, such as Virginia Mason, have seen vaccination rates skyrocket from the 60 to 70 percent range to 98 or 99 percent, Kennedy said.
OMC”s immunization rate among health care workers last year was 76 percent.
“We have some great examples out there of how this works,” Kennedy said.
“I really feel that it’s an important moment. We’re joining a statewide effort of hospitals to bring this on board and to take this element of exposure to our patients out of the health care workplace.”
Jefferson Healthcare implemented a similar policy last year. Forks Community Hospital has not adopted a policy, Locke said.
OMC staff will be provided with ample information on the new policy and have an opportunity to be immunized at the Oct. 11 business meeting, Kennedy said.
“Our goal is to not have people on the employee roster feeling pressured at the last minute to get a flu shot and make a decision,” Kennedy said.
“There is a lot of work that’s going to go on to try to make it available early, make information available early, connect people with information campaigns and not have it be a high-pressure thing. But it will be an OMC thing.”
Health officials said flu vaccines taken early are effective throughout the winter season.
“We’re going to get immunized early,” Kennedy said.
“We want to be on the front end of the season.”
Last year, manufacturing delays stretched thin the supply of the H1N1 influenza, or swine flu, vaccine. A priority list was used to get limited early doses to the most vulnerable and the most likely to spread it — kids and young adults. A separate vaccine was needed for the seasonal flu last year.
This year, a single does of vaccine will cover H1N1 as well as the seasonal flu. Supply shortages are not expected this winter, Kennedy said.
Sequim helicopter pad
Meanwhile, commissioners accepted a $109,190 bid from Carlsborg-based Primo Construction to build a military-strength helicopter pad just south of the Sequim cancer center.
A portion of that cost is covered by donations, including a $10,000 donation from the Sequim Hospital Guild.
The 54-foot diameter helipad will be used to airlift trauma patients from the east side of Clallam County to larger hospitals such as Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The thick concrete can also accommodate military aircraft in the event of a natural disaster.
Medical helicopters occasionally land on the fields near Sequim High School. More often, trauma patients are taken by ambulance to Port Angeles and airlifted from OMC.
Primo’s bid was the lowest of five that ranged up to $170,000.
“This will be a very nice community asset,” said Eric Lewis, OMC chief executive officer.
“We have strong support from fire and police and State Patrol.”
Construction of the helipad is expected to begin next month. It should be finished by the end of October, Lewis said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
