Medical workers: Vaccinate yourselves first

Just under half of health care workers do not get their annual flu vaccine. Some of these workers contract the flu and unknowingly transfer it to their sick hospitalized patients, and in some cases, because of them passing the flu along, those patients die.   We know the most important reason for health care workers to get vaccinated against influenza is that it is the most effective way of preventing influenza among their patients. And yet, unfortunately, many health care workers are putting patients at unnecessary risk. If medical professionals know this, then why aren’t they complying?  As physicians, one of the most challenging things we do is to encourage our patients to comply with our treatments.  Why, then, do we not comply with a preventive treatment we know we protect our patients and ourselves?  I asked colleagues about this over the years and they have usually told me that they are either afraid of side effects or they don’t believe that the vaccine works. There is more than enough data to prove them wrong. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Conditions Hospital-Based Medicine Infectious Disease Primary Care Source Type: blogs