Long-Term Care and Flu

"Vaccinate Health Care Providers in Long-Term Care Facilities

Influenza (flu) is a contagious viral infection that affects the respiratory system – your nose, throat and lungs. Flu can be a serious health threat for people 65 and older and those of any age living with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney and liver disorders. Health care providers in long-term care (LTC) facilities have direct or indirect contact with residents, who often are older adults, people with disabilities, and people with chronic medical conditions receiving care.

Besides vaccinating residents to protect them from flu, it is very important for health care workers to get vaccinated against flu also. Annual flu vaccination reduces flu illnesses and more serious flu outcomes that can result in hospitalization, or even death. Vaccinated workers in LTC facilities may protect residents as well as the employees themselves..."
Healthcare and Flu

Statement from the Department of Health and Human Services on the Regulation for the Enforcement of Federal Health Care Conscience Protections
"The administration strongly supports provider conscience laws that protect and support the rights of health care providers, and also recognizes and supports the rights of patients. Strong conscience laws make it clear that health care providers cannot be compelled to perform or assist in an abortion. Many of these strong conscience laws have been in existence for more than 30 years. The rule being issued today builds on these laws by providing a clear enforcement process.

To underscore its support, HHS is beginning a new awareness initiative for our grantees through the HHS Office for Civil Rights, to ensure they understand the statutory conscience protections, and the enforcement process for those who believe their rights have been violated.

The final conscience protection rule being issued today by HHS reaffirms the Department’s commitment to longstanding federal conscience statutes by maintaining and building upon provisions of the Bush administration rule that established an enforcement process for federal conscience laws, while rescinding the definitions and terms of the previous rule that caused confusion and could be taken as overly broad."