Posted by RWBSocks at 10/03/09 11:22AM        Post ID#: #14432

Congratulations to Memorial for making the decision to protect the public and its' staff as fully as possible. Too bad the other hospital doesn't care as much about the community.

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Posted by ChrisR at 10/03/09 11:58PM        Post ID#: #14445

RWBSocks,,,what you imply is horse s$3t! We do care for the community and for our staff. The H1N1 is available to all, however we choose not to tell an employee that its either this or this. We believe you have the right choose.

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Posted by RWBSocks at 10/04/09 09:52AM        Post ID#: #14451

Chris,

30,000 people die each year from seasonal flu (let alone this new strain). The collective benefit of vaccination is only maximized through universal vaccination. While I am sure you care for the community and your staff, Memorial seems to care that much more.

How do you feel about mandatory seat belt laws or laws against drinking and driving? Sometimes giving up a modicum of personal freedom can yield tremendous benefits for the community-at-large. Something Regional Hospital might consider.

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Posted by ChrisR at 10/05/09 06:19AM        Post ID#: #14483

RWB..I am all for the seat belt and the drinking and driving law however,they has nothing to do with the swine flu concerns. The think about swine flu is just like any other flu..STAY home, drink lots of fluids(gatorade-propel), eat right, wash your hands, do not touch your face, use hot water and soap and do not seek medical attention unless you are dehydrate, or running extreme fevers. Save the ER's for those that are in life situations. The ER's need to be treating the critical..not Suzi or Johnny who have colds or the flu.

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Posted by RWBSocks at 10/05/09 07:45AM        Post ID#: #14491

Chris,

Take a look at the history of influenza outbreaks...it is not as benign as you describe.

And, we were not talking about going to the ER or not, the discussion was about the benefit of inoculating staff to protect fellow hospital staff and patients so the provision of health care can continue...especially in the context of a likely worse-than-usual flu season.

Mandatory vaccinations are an important hedge on ensuring our hospitals are functioning as efficiently as possible at a time when we need them most. Sure, people who are well generally can and will likely ride this out at home, but, plenty of others will be hospitalized.

The staff at Memorial will be better able to deal with this than Regional because of the policy of universal vaccination. Maybe there is a way to look retrospectively at employee sick days at each facility and compare. Or, hospital-acquired infection mortality rates?

After your first response, thanks for making this a more civil discussion. And, by the way, pay attention to the union lawsuit challenging mandatory vaccination, I think, in Tacoma. Same issue we've discussed.

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Posted by huh at 10/05/09 10:07AM        Post ID#: #14513

Unfortunately we live in a world full of law suits and a well capitalized company with over 50 hospitals in it's corporate sphere must make decisions based on the exposure and defense of such frivilous lawsuits that may come up. A lawsuit about invasion of my body is a biggy in the civil law catagory. Memorial does not have the same exposure as Regional. Therefore, I support Memorial's action and also support Regional's.

Since when has this become a good guy bad guy thing anyway?

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Posted by huh at 10/05/09 10:09AM        Post ID#: #14514

I would also think that if the support was so widespread at Memorial, a mere suggestion that a H1N1 vaccination is available would bring them all running to be first in line for the innoculation. There would be no reason to make the innoculation mandatory.

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