Health Care/Social Assistance

Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands – A new policy paper from the Emergency Nurses Association and the International Nurses Society on Addictions emphasizes “alternative-to-discipline” methods for nurses and nursing students who may be struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.

Washington – NIOSH has created an online topic page spotlighting a survey that examines hazardous drugs and chemical hazards present in the health care industry.

Sacramento, CA – California lawmakers are moving forward with legislation that would require health care facilities to use scavenging systems to reduce “surgical plume" – toxic airborne contaminants that threaten surgical staff and patients.

Washington – NIOSH has released two electronic modules for tracking sharps injuries, as well as blood and body fluid exposures, among health care workers as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Occupational Health Safety Network.

Chicago – Medical residents and fellows, including first-year residents, will be allowed to work for up to 28 consecutive hours without sleep as part of revised requirements recently approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Houston – Excluding physicians, a majority of hospital workers are overweight or obese and do not take part in vigorous physical activity, according to a recent study from the University of Texas School of Public Health.

Washington – Should first-year medical residents be allowed to work for up to 28 consecutive hours without sleep? The question has stirred debate in the health care community as a proposal is considered by board members of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

East Lansing, MI – Hospitals that use unit-level data on violent events to create worksite interventions could help lower the risk of patient-to-worker violence and staff injuries, a recent study from Michigan State University suggests.

Basel, Switzerland – Health care professionals’ judgment varies significantly when they conduct medical evaluations to determine whether workers should receive disability benefits for an injury or illness, and standards are needed to improve the process, according to researchers from the University of Basel.

Redmond, WA – Physio-Control has issued a voluntary field action of its LIFEPAK 1000 automated external defibrillator, citing reports of unexpected shutdowns while patients were being treated with the device.