Re: Landmark prepares for H1N1 flu season
09-12-2009 18:19
WOONSOCKET ? Working closely with the Rhode Island Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Landmark Medical Center will lead the first-stage of coordinating efforts to immunize local first responders including police and fire professionals, pharmacy staff, emergency medical technicians, nursing home personnel, school nurses, paramedics and physicians and their assistants at North Smithfield High School in the coming weeks. Two doses will be distributed 21 days apart for responders in Woonsocket, Burrillville, and North Smithfield. The vaccination effort is being planned for the North Smithfield High School, likely in mid-October when the H1N1 vaccine becomes available for first responders.
?We are taking every precaution and step necessary to ensure Landmark Medical Center is properly prepared not only for the H1N1 virus, but the flu season in general,? said Landmark President Richard Charest. ?We will continue to work in spirited cooperation with officials from the Department of Health as the flu season approaches to ensure the safety and well-being of our patients.?
To create a more efficient process, the CDC and the Health Department have divided Rhode Island into several Healthcare Service Regions (HSR). Landmark is responsible for the communities of Woonsocket, North Smithfield and Burrillville. Jennifer Zuba, clinical nurse manager for Landmark?s emergency department and clinical liaison to the Department of Health for H1N1, is coordinating the vaccination effort for Landmark?s region at North Smithfield High School. In addition, she is leading plans at Landmark Medical Center in the event the hospital begins seeing a large influx of patients with the H1N1 virus.
?It will be business as usual at Landmark throughout this process,? Charest said. ?We will continue to offer professional care to our patients. All of the preparation going on behind the scenes will properly prepare us to handle the H1N1 virus if it becomes widespread in our community.?
Depending on the number of vaccines produced, the United States government will determine who is eligible to receive the next wave of vaccines.
To prevent the spread of illness, Landmark and the Rhode Island Department of Health urge all residents to:
n Routinely wash your hands with warm water and soap.
n Sneeze and cough into your elbow or a disposable tissue.
n Stay home if you are sick.
n Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent spreading germs and illness.
n Practice good health habits: get plenty of sleep and fluids, eat nutritious food, reduce stress and be physically active.
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