Photo caption: (left to right) Glenn Nacion, Vice President of Human Resources; Gary Horan, FACHE, President & CEO; Pat Thiel, RN, Director of Employee Health; Lourdes Hernandez, Director of Performance Improvement; and Nancy DiLiegro, PhD, FACHE, Chief Clinical Officer/Vice President of Clinical Operations and Physician Services.
Trinitas Regional Medical Center has been named to the NJ Influenza Honor Roll for the third consecutive year by the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) for instituting a mandate that all health care personnel receive the influenza vaccination every year. The New Jersey Department of Health gave its first Innovator’s Award to Trinitas in recognition of the high percentage of employees who were vaccinated against the flu in 2018.
“Seasonal influenza is a common virus that can have devastating consequences making it extremely important to institute community-based efforts to reduce the burden of disease,” says Christina Tan, MD, MPH, State Epidemiologist/Assistant Commissioner Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health. “We thank Trinitas for its commitment to protecting the health of the community and the citizens of New Jersey, especially as efforts were also being directed toward the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The mandate also includes further measures, such as masking while at work, to help protect patients from influenza transmission from workers who cannot be vaccinated because of medical or religious reasons. Thirteen major health and medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Hospital Association, have developed position statements supporting mandatory influenza vaccination for health care personnel.
“This year, the mandatory vaccine policy worked in conjunction with the mask mandate to protect our population from flu as well as COVID-19,” says Gary S. Horan, FACHE, President/CEO of Trinitas. “Our flu vaccine compliance for the hospital is at 97% for employees, however, this year, there were no known cases of the flu, likely due to employees wearing masks, social distancing and using proper hand hygiene.”
Currently, the IAC’s Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll (http://www.immunize.org/honor-roll/influenza-mandates/honorees.asp) includes more than 1100 organizations, such as hospitals, health care systems and practices, long-term care facilities, and pharmacies that have instituted mandatory influenza vaccination policies to promote patient safety and prevent transmission of influenza.
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About Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Trinitas Regional Medical Center was established in 2000 following the consolidation of Elizabeth General Medical Center and St. Elizabeth Hospital. Trinitas, a major center for comprehensive health services for those who live and work in Central New Jersey, is a Catholic teaching medical center sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth in partnership with Elizabethtown Healthcare Foundation. With 12 Centers of Excellence across the continuum of care, Trinitas has distinguished itself in cardiology, cancer care, behavioral health, renal care, nursing education, diabetes management, wound healing, breast health, seniors health care, women's health care and sleep medicine.
Contact Information
Doug Harris
908-994-5138
dharris@trinitas.org
Yolanda Fleming
908-994-5139
Yfleming@trinitas.org