Many of our nation's health care facilities are not prepared to protect health care workers from exposures to pandemic influenza, according to a new report compiled by the SEIU and six other unions, "Healthcare Workers in Peril: Preparing to Protect Worker Health and Safety During Pandemic Influenza." To determine the level of worker safety and health preparedness on a facility basis, a "pandemic flu preparedness survey" was distributed to 104 healthcare facilities in 14 states over the course of 2008.
In the event of a widespread flu outbreak, health care workers would have increased vulnerability to the virus, both through their normal everyday activities and in the health care environment where sick patients come for care. The report results indicate that a number of health care facilities have made some progress in preparing for a pandemic flu epidemic - but "some" progress does not equal nearly "enough" preparedness, given the high risks of a potential pandemic influenza outbreak, which typically strikes three to four times a century.
Report Findings: Only 4 percent of surveyed union leaders representing health care workers reported that their workplaces were "very ready" to respond sufficiently to an influenza pandemic, while another 33 percent felt their facilities were "ready for most things." While reading over this report myself, I was surprised to discover that more than a third of the clinics surveyed have no pandemic flu plan in place at all. Forty-three percent of survey respondents said that, given the current level of preparedness at their facility to minimize personal exposure while caring for infected patients, "most or some members will stay home" in the event of a pandemic outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued guidelines for preventing the spread of a pandemic flu disease that that fall into this line of thinking, recommending that during emerging health threats people should stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
This advice clearly makes sense, as sick employees going to work contributes to the spread of diseases like swine flu.
How many of us have personally experienced similar situations (of less severity), when a single coworker coming into work sick has ended up unintentionally giving their illness to multiple coworkers. The truth is that for millions of Americans who do not receive paid sick days, staying home due to personal illness or to take care of a sick family member is simply not an option--because to stay home would mean the loss of that day's wages. This problem is more pervasive than most people realize. From Think Progress's Wonk Room blog:
Currently, nearly 50 percent of private-sector workers have no paid sick days. For low-income workers, the number jumps to 76 percent, and climbs to 86 percent for food service workers. These workers have to decide between the health of themselves and their co-workers, and the wages that they lose by staying home.
The recent swine flu outbreak makes getting our health care facilities prepared to protect healthcare workers from exposures to pandemic influenza even more of a priority. It has also compelled news outlets and bloggers to take a closer look at the Republican obstructionism that's blocked the confirmation of an HHS Secretary. We've been running a petition to the Senate calling on a swift confirmation of Gov. Sebelius, so if you're concerned about those who place politics above the health and safety of our nation, please add your name: Tell Senate Republicans it is unacceptable to deprive the department of leadership as the nation confronts a potential flu pandemic.
>> For key survey results and recommendations to address the problems uncovered by the survey, see the full report here.
