Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1179082
60 CMO / CARE DELIVERY Only 52% of US adults plan to get flu vaccine this season, survey finds By Anuja Vaidya A little over half of U.S. adults plan on getting vaccinated this influen- za season, according to data released by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. e foundation sponsored a survey conducted by National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago from Aug. 15-18. e survey included 1,002 complete responses from U.S. adults, ages 18 years and older. Six survey findings: 1. While 60 percent of adults agreed that vaccination is the best preventive mea- sure against the flu, only 52 percent said they plan to get vaccinated this season, and 18 percent said they are not sure. 2. Of those who said they would not get the vaccine, a majority said the reason is they do not think flu vaccines work (51 percent), and many are concerned about side effects from the vaccine (34 percent) or are concerned about getting the flu from the vaccine (22 percent.) 3. More than six in 10 adults indicate that they get information about flu vac- cines from healthcare professionals; 55 percent report also getting information from online sources. 4. Seventy percent do not trust social media for information about flu vaccines. 5. Most adults (62 percent) report receiving their last flu vaccine in a healthcare setting. 6. Sixty-three percent said that their employers offering flu vaccinations would not make them more likely to get vaccinated. n Flu season may be severe, health officials say By Gabrielle Masson H ealth officials predict the upcoming flu season to be severe, according to U.S. News & World Report. One pediatric flu-related death was reported in California in early September. The 4-year- old patient had underlying health conditions. "A death so early in the flu season suggests this year may be worse than usual," Cameron Kaiser, MD, health officer for Riverside County, California's public health department, said in a press release. Australia's flu season, which officials use as an indicator of the upcoming season in the United States, was severe and came early this year. Australia's health department re- ported an increase in flu activity this season, with influenza A constituting 93 percent of reported cases. The United States' 2018-19 flu season had a "moderate severity," with activity increasing in November and peaking mid-February, ac- cording to the CDC. With a 21-week duration, it was the longest flu season in a decade. The CDC recommends that almost everyone 6 months and older receive the flu vaccine every year. n Ballad Health implements safety changes after fatal patient drop By Gabrielle Masson A man who died in 2018 after being dropped in the operating room has led to immediate and long- term improvements at Johnson City, Tenn.-based Ballad Health, according to WJHL. Eighty-year-old Harold Landers was dropped during hip repair surgery at Laughlin Memorial Hospital, now called Greeneville (Tenn.) Community Hospital East. Mr. Landers reportedly slipped off a bed and broke his neck while staff members were preparing to transfer him to a recovery room after his surgery. He died eight days later from the injuries, WJHL reported. A Ballad Health executive said the incident prompted same-day action at Laughlin Hospital, including staff meet- ings and retraining, according to WJHL. Mark Patterson, MD, CMO at Laughlin at the time, told WJHL he imple- mented a new policy for communicating which staff mem- ber has hands-on oversight of a patient at all times. A CMS investigation concluded that the hospital "failed to follow facility policy" and "failed to ensure a safe environ- ment during a surgical procedure," WJHL reported. CMS removed the hospital's previously instituted "immediate jeopardy" status the same day Mr. Landers died, since Bal- lad Health submitted a comprehensive correction plan, ac- cording to WJHL. Ballad Health and the Landers family reached a confiden- tial settlement Sept. 12. The family released a statement saying, "The Landers family believes Ballad Health has taken our situation very seriously, and we appreciate the steps Ballad Health has taken to make sure all their em- ployees and doctors can learn from this incident," accord- ing to WJHL. n