Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie Takes Proactive Steps to Prepare for Flu Season

Contact: Ashley Howland, 214-820-7540
Email: ashlehow@baylorhealth.edu

(WAXAHACHIE, Texas, Nov. 6, 2007) - With the holidays right around the corner, 'tis the season for planning family gatherings, shopping trips and holiday vacations. But unfortunately, another season has already begun—flu season.

When it comes to fighting the flu, Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie is on the front lines. Every year, the hospital offers free flu vaccines to all employees, physicians and contract workers to help protect each other and most importantly, patients.

Caused by the influenza virus, the flu is a very contagious respiratory illness that is easily spread from person to person by coughing, sneezing, and contact with contaminated items/surfaces. But prevention is key—flu vaccination is currently the most effective way to protect yourself and others.

"Patients in a hospital setting are usually immune suppressed so they are at high risk for developing serious complications from the flu if they contract it. That's why we aggressively encourage our employees to get vaccinated," explains Zoe Degel, R.N., with Baylor Waxahachie Employee Health. "In addition, we remind our employees to follow hygiene guidelines, such as proper hand washing—an initiative we push year-round—that also can reduce transmission of the flu."

On Oct. 15, Baylor Waxahachie held a flu season kick-off day to provide employees with free flu shots and education about flu prevention and transmission. Over 300 of the hospital's 383 employees were vaccinated that first week. The hospital is also offering employees a nasal version of the vaccination upon request.

"I keep flu vaccines with me at all times should I run into an employee who needs it," adds Degel. "More and more employees are vaccinated everyday."

Flu season can begin as early as October and last until as late as May, but the best time for vaccination is during the months of October and November.

"Once you are vaccinated, it usually takes about two weeks to develop antibodies against the virus so it's important to receive your flu shot as early as possible," explains Degel.

In addition to offering free vaccines, Baylor Health Care System (BHCS) helps to educate employees about the flu by offering an educational tool through Baylor's internal website.

"Not only does this tool serve as an educational component for flu prevention, but it is also used to determine why some people don't get vaccinated so we can assess those reasons and address them," says Degel.

As a result of efforts like these, Baylor Health Care System's employee vaccination rate was among one of the highest in the nation last flu season. In fact, BHCS was one of five organizations nationwide to be recognized by the American Nurse's Association for "Best Practices in Seasonal Influenza Immunization" as part of a program designed to identify organizations that successfully increased influenza vaccination rates of their employees.

To help protect yourself and others from the flu this year, Baylor Waxahachie recommends following these guidelines:

• Get a flu shot. Everyone should be vaccinated, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that children 6 months through 5 years, pregnant women, people 50 years of age and older, those with chronic medical conditions and people in nursing homes or long term care facilities, receive a flu shot every year as they are at higher risk for developing complications.
• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. The influenza virus is easily spread by coughing and sneezing so cover your mouth or use a tissue. Wash your hands afterwards or throw the tissue away.
• Wash your hands regularly. Thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water can prevent transmitting the flu to your self and others as the virus can live on surfaces for a few days. If water and soap is not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Avoid close contact with sick people. The flu can be spread beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. If you do have the flu, avoid going to work, school or social gatherings to prevent passing it to others.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Especially if you have not washed your hands, avoid making contact with these areas as you could infect yourself if you have been in contact with the flu virus.

Baylor Waxahachie nurses help the local school nurses with vaccinations for school age and pre-school children on the second Thursday of every month. The next shot clinic will be held on Thursday, Nov. 8, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Waxahachie Junior High School, 2401 Brown Street. Flu vaccinations will be available.

Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie is a not-for-profit hospital dedicated to providing technologically advanced medical care closer to home for the residents of southern Dallas and Ellis counties.