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Updated February 2, 2005
 DPH’s Recommendations for Adult Use
of Influenza Vaccine
These recommendations give
priority to those adults who are more likely to suffer severe complications
or death from influenza. Vaccinations will be phased in based on medical
need. Separate recommendations
have been made for the use of influenza vaccine among health care workers
involved in direct patient care. Click
here.
 Self-Screening for Flu Shots
The new HHS/CDC form to
enable self-screening by patients visiting health care providers to receive a
flu shot. It should be
especially useful in flu clinics.
The form is based on the most-current ACIP recommendations for this
influenza season and will help providers to more easily screen potential
vaccinees. In flu clinics, the
form may help to reduce long lines by enabling the early identification of
those who should not be vaccinated during this influenza season. These persons could "take
themselves out of line" or seek clarification or answers from clinic
staff before leaving the clinic area. Click
here.
 Influenza Prevention Toolkit
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/toolkit/
 Influenza Antiviral Medications:
(posted: 10/22/04)
2004-05 Interim
Chemoprophylaxis and Treatment Guidelines
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/treatment/0405antiviralguide.htm
 CDC Questions & Answers:
2004-05 Flu Season (posted: 10/22/04)
CDC has posted an updated
Q&A on their website which now has answers to two questions frequently
ask by clinicians - one relating to the use of ½ doses and one related to a
definition of "health care worker." http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/0405season.htm
CDC, Aventis Pasteur Announce Allocation Plan to Address Influenza
Vaccine Shortages (posted:
10/18/04)
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and Aventis Pasteur announced today the first
phase of the plan to allocate influenza vaccine in response to the recently
announced loss of half of the nation's expected flu vaccine supply for the
2004-2005 season. The plan, announced by CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding
and Aventis Pasteur US President Damian Braga, calls for CDC to work closely
with Aventis to distribute in phases 22.4 million doses of unshipped vaccine
to identified areas of need throughout the country.
Beginning immediately,
about 14.2 million doses of vaccine will be allocated over the next 6-8 weeks
through Aventis Pasteur contracts directly to high-priority vaccine
providers, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and
private providers who care for young children.
"This plan will help
ensure that vaccine gets to those people who need it most," said CDC
Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. "This is a troubling, frustrating
situation for all of us and we need for all Americans to pull together in the
weeks to come to meet this challenge head on. This plan is the result of
unprecedented collaboration between CDC, Aventis Pasteur, and state and local
health departments across the country. And we must not forget the other
public health heroes on the front lines in grocery stores, pharmacies, and
health clinics working to prioritize vaccine. "
CDC will continue to work
with Aventis Pasteur and state and local health departments to identify
people, by region, on the vaccination priority list. The approximately 8.2
million doses remaining after the first phase is completed will be shipped to
other high-need areas.
"Since Dr. Gerberding
contacted us last week, we at Aventis Pasteur have worked with the CDC around
the clock to tackle the complex task of getting millions of doses of
influenza vaccine to thousands of health care providers around the country.
Our goal has been to direct remaining doses as quickly as possible to those
areas where large numbers of at-risk individuals are in need," said
Damian Braga, president, Aventis Pasteur US. "It is a huge logistical feat
and we are proud to have contributed our knowledge and expertise to this
plan."
Last week CDC announced
priority groups for vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine for the
2004-2005 influenza season:
- all children aged 6-23 months,
- adults aged 65 years and older,
- persons aged 2-64 years with underlying
chronic medical conditions,
- all women who will be pregnant during
influenza season,
- residents of nursing homes and long-term care
facilities,
- children 6 months-18 years of age on chronic
aspirin therapy,
- health-care workers with direct patient care,
and
- out-of-home caregivers and household contacts
of children aged <6 months.
- Influenza season typically peaks in the United
States between December and March. Because each season is unpredictable,
it's not known how severe the 2004-2005 season might be.
Although vaccination is
the best protection against influenza, everyone can take practical steps to
help prevent spread of flu, such as avoiding close contact with people who
are sick and keeping your distance from others if you're sick; when possible,
staying home from work, school, and errands when you are sick; covering your
mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and cleaning your hands often.
For more information about
the flu and this year's recommendations, visit the CDC Website:
www.cdc.gov/flu.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain’s Dr.
Lorraine G. Spranzo Scholarship.
Deadline: November 1, 2004.
This award is made annually to support an exemplary student
pursuing studies at the masters or doctoral level in the field of nursing,
either at a Connecticut university or while practicing at a Connecticut
healthcare organization.
Click here
for cover letter. Click here for the application.
NAHC’s Home Care Aide-to-RN Scholarship program.
(06/1/04)
Click here for details. Click here for the
application.
New Nurse Educator
Scholarship Program (2/10/04)
Continuity of Care Scholarship Program
The purpose of this scholarship program is to recognize
registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and home health aides working
in the home care environment, as they advance their skills and
education. It is the result of a
generous contribution by the Connecticut Association for Continuity of
Care. Because this new
scholarship is an on-going effort to support and recognize home care agency
staff, contributions by individuals, corporations, and associations involved
in the home care industry would provide for growth in the original principal
and expand opportunities to award scholarships. It's also a way to make donations "in honor of"
or recognizing individuals who served the home care community during their
career. This scholarship program
will be administered by the Connecticut Nurses' Foundation. For more information, contact Timothy
E. Squires, RN, BSN, MS, via email: TSQS3001@aol.com
or telephone 203-238-1207.
 Needlestick Safety
Needlestick Prevention
OSHA's
Powerpoint Presentation on Needlestick Prevention
(note, this page takes a few inutes to
open)
HHS Issues Rules for Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation
Program
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced an interim
final rule that implements a law Congress passed earlier this year to
identify and compensate people injured as a result of receiving a smallpox
vaccine. The interim rule for the new Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation
Program describes eligibility criteria, the process for requesting benefits
and receiving payments, and other necessary policies and procedures. Funded
at $42 million, the program provides financial and medical benefits to
eligible members of an HHS-approved smallpox emergency response plan who
sustain certain medical injuries caused by a smallpox vaccine.
In addition, unvaccinated individuals injured after coming
into contact with vaccinated members of an emergency response plan – or with
a person with whom the vaccinated person had contact -- may be eligible for
program benefits. The program also provides benefits to survivors of eligible
individuals whose death resulted from a covered injury.
Those who wish to file a claim will find forms and
information at www.hrsa.gov/smallpoxinjury.
HHS is also making special efforts to ensure that all those involved in the
smallpox vaccination effort, and especially anyone who may have been injured,
will receive notification quickly that the claims system is now operational.
The interim rule was scheduled to be published in the Dec.
16, 2003, Federal Register and will be effective immediately. The public may
comment on its contents, and HHS may amend it later based on those comments.
HHS began implementation of the compensation program by
publishing a Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Table in the Aug. 27, 2003,
edition of the Federal Register. The table became effective upon publication.
The table identifies medical injuries and adverse effects presumed to have
been caused by a smallpox vaccine or contact. It also lists time intervals in
which the first symptom or manifestation must appear in order for the
presumption of a vaccine-caused injury to apply. The benefit of such a table
is that a causal relationship need not be demonstrated between a smallpox
vaccine and an injury listed in it. Because it is possible to incur a medical
injury not listed on the table that may have been caused by a smallpox
vaccination or contact, a person who can present sufficient evidence to prove
likely causation may still be eligible for program benefits.
In order to be eligible to receive benefits, requesters
must satisfy the filing deadlines described in the interim final rule.
Because these deadlines may fall as early as Jan. 24, 2004, individuals
interested in applying for benefits with the program are encouraged to file a
Request Form as soon as possible. Anyone interested in eligibility or
application information can contact the Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation
Program, located in HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration, at
1-888-496-0338, or by sending an email to smallpox@hrsa.gov.
CDC ADVISORY - Public Health Precautions Related to
Mass Trauma (3/16/04)
CDC
Recommends Suspension of the Routine use of the Third and Fourth Doses of
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (Prevnar®) (3/2/04)
CDC has issued updated recommendations
for flu shots (10/5/04)
Influenza A (H5N1) and SARS (2/3/04)
CDC Update: Interim
Recommendations for Enhanced U.S. Surveillance, Testing, and Infection
Control
Mad Cow Disease Update
Presumptive Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) – Washington (12/24/03)
Re:
Identification of first BSE positive cow in the US. The cow (Holstein) was from a farm in
Washington State. The cow was
non-ambulatory when sent to slaughter on December 9th and was tested by the
USDA for BSE. Test results were
reported today.
- BSE
is a fatal progressive neurological disease among cattle. It belongs to a family of
diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Also included in that family of
illnesses is the human disease, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
(vCJD), which is believed to be caused by eating infected animal tissue,
principally brain and spinal cord.
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob
Disease in people less than 55 years is a reportable disease in
Connecticut. No cases of
variant-CJD (vCJD) have been identified in Connecticut.
- The
USDA has initiated an epidemiological investigation working with state,
public health, and industry counterparts to determine the source of the
disease in the cow. The
USDA will also work with the Food and Drug Administration as they
conduct animal feed investigations, the primary pathway for the spread
of BSE. Positive samples
from the suspect cow tested at the USDA national laboratory are being
sent to the world reference laboratory in England for final
confirmation.
- If
needed, the USDA will announce a recall of beef products once the
investigation determines the products, if any, which contain parts of
the infected animal. There
are currently no recommendations for the public to alter beef
consumption habits. While
muscle from the suspect animal went to meat processing plants, it did
not include brain, spinal cord, or parts of the intestine, the tissues
that are most likely to have the agent of BSE in an infected animal.
- The
USDA has an ongoing national BSE surveillance program. During 2003 over 20,000 head of
cattle were tested for BSE.
No other positive animals were identified. Since 1990, the USDA has taken
steps to reduce the risk of transmission of BSE in the US including a
ban on feeding potentially infected products to cattle and the testing
program.
- BSE Response Plan Summary
- BSE Fact Sheet
- USDA Press Release
- USDA Transcript of News Conference with
Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman on BSE
Cover Your Cough!
The Minnesota DOH, in collaboration with the Association
of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and the Minnesota
Antibiotic Resistance Collaborative to develop a campaign designed to reduce
the person-to-person spread of respiratory infections like influenza or
SARS. The "new normal"
approach to infection control includes possibly asking patients in waiting
rooms to wear a surgical mask if they're coughing or sneezing. Alternatively
patients will be asked to sneeze or cough into tissues that are provided, and
to wash their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rubs. A poster and brochure with these
messages for use in patient care waiting areas have been developed. For further information and to
download posters and
brochures for printing, see: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/infectioncontrol/cover/.
Avian
Influenza Resources
-
SARS
Advisory #5: Enhanced Surveillance for SARS and for Avian Influenza
-
Avian
influenza A(H5N1) in humans in Viet Nam and in poultry in Asian countries -
update 2 and Avian influenza - fact sheet
-
Human Cases of
Avian Influenza A (H7N7) Infection in U.S.
Department of Homeland Security Threat Levels
DPH health advisory
DPH has asked us to forward the following
DPH health advisory and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory,
concerning the use of FD&C Blue #1
dye in enteral feeding solutions. The advisory states that there have been several reports
of toxicity, including death,
that have been temporally associated with the use of FD&C Blue #1. The FDA is monitoring for
additional events and encourages all health professionals to report any
serious adverse events occurring with Blue #1-tinted enteral feeding
solutions to the FDA's Medwatch program. Please contact me for any questions
Home
Health Information Resource for Medicare
Home Health
Quality Initiative
Outcome-Based Quality
Monitoring FAQ
SARS Resources
Smallpox Resources
Click
HERE to see CAHC Programs/Workshops
Non-CAHC Programs/Workshops/Websites:
University of Hartford, The
Institute for Leadership in Geriatric Nursing Discussion Sessions
- March
30, 2005, 4:30-6:30 pm Designed for front-line managers
RSVP: Karen Ramos, 860-768-4213 or kramos@hartford.edu. Please provide
your email address and they will email directions to the University of
Hartford and a visitor’s parking pass.
National Private Duty Association
3rd Annual Conference
On March 2-4, 2005 in San Diego, California. This
conference will provide CAHC members with an excellent opportunity to explore
ways of expanding private duty services while helping to set the direction
and vision of the private duty industry. To view the conference brochure and learn more about this
event, visit their website at http://www.privatedutyhomecare.org/cde.cfm?event=75268.
Be sure to mark that you heard about the conference from CAHC when you fill
out your registration form.
CHARTER
OAK Educational Opportunities For Practicing RNs and Re-entering RNs and
LPNs
+ The RN/LPN
Refresher Courses
+ Introduction to
Home Care Nursing
+ The Home Care
Nursing Tutorials
These programs were designed in collaboration with
Connecticut League for Nursing (CLN) and CAHC.
Click here for a
copy of the brochure.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TRAINING 101
The course is now ready for individual agencies at no
cost. It now has the home care
content and photos included in the video. For more information, or to schedule a date for your
agency staff, please contact Jennifer Wright, Instructor/ Trainer, Office of
Emergency Preparedness, at Yale New Haven Health System. Call her at 203-688-4618 or e-mail at
jennifer.wright@ynhh.org.
The Corridor Group – CHEX
The Corridor Group launched CHEX, a new state-of-the-art
online training program designed for home care and hospice agencies. For further details, course
descriptions and a demonstration, visit www.corridorgroup.com.
On-Line Course that meets CT
DPH RN Supervisor Requirements
During
the past Academic Year, Sacred Heart University’s Nursing Department, in
partnership with the Connecticut League for Nursing, has offered an online
Certificate Program in Home Health Care Management for RNs. The certificate program in Home
Health Care Management is designed for nurses in management positions in Home
Health Agencies to meet the State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health
(DPH) requirements. DPH requires
nurses in managerial positions in home care who do not have a BSN to complete
at least six credits in health care management or community health from an
accredited college, university or school of nursing.
A
certificate is awarded after the completion of two courses. One is a general Leadership and
Management course that provides the student with the basic concepts and
theories needed for effective management of client care. The second course, designed
specifically for the Certificate Program, is called Management of Home Health
Care Agencies. This course
takes basic management concepts and applies them specifically to home care. Content includes financing home care
including Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance; State and Federal
regulations; accreditation regulations including quality improvement;
concepts of case management; trends and issues in home care; legal and
ethical consideration in home care, and community resources. Both courses can be applied to a BSN
if the student chooses to continue to pursue their degree.
Sacred
Heart University is pleased to report that the first group of students have
successfully completed the program and have received their certificates. Courses begin in again in
September. If you are interested
in learning more about this certificate program, contact Alma Haluch, Program
Assistant, Nursing Department, 203-371-7715 or by email at mailto:halucha@sacredheart.edu.
Charter Oak
State College Online bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Health Care
Administration
Click here for a 3-page brochure, or
call 860.832.3855 or email info@charteroak.edu
for more info.
The Board of Examiners for Nursing Website can be
accessed through the DPH’s website at www.dph.state.ct.us,
through the Public Health Hearing Office home page, or by accessing the
following link http://www.dph.state.ct.us/Public%20Health%20Hearing%20Office/Hearing%20Office/Nursing%20Board/BOEN.HTM
Other Nursing Resources
The nurse practice act, nursing school regulations, list
of Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse educational programs in the
state, list of BOEN members, declaratory rulings, disciplinary actions and monthly
Board minutes are all available for your review. Application and license renewal information as well as
verification, and disciplinary information for active and inactive licenses
is available at www.ct-clic.com
The monthly BOEN minutes contain
the most recent Scope of Practice questions and answers, which guide the
practice of LPN’s, RN’s, and APRN’s.
In addition, decisions involving unlicensed assistive personnel (i.e.
CNA’s, Home Health Aides, Medical Assistants, etc) are also available.
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