A nurse administering the seasonal flu vaccine.  (File photo)A nurse administering the seasonal flu vaccine. (File photo)
Chatham

CK hospital gets over $300K to fight flu season

The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) will get a big boost this winter to combat the surge of illnesses during the season, particularly the flu.

A $302,000 one time allotment from the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) was announced at a CKHA information update Friday morning. The president and CEO of CKHA, Lori Marshall, said the funds will go towards the opening of five beds and two full-time nurses, all temporary. Marshall added the surge season runs from now until the end of March.

Marshall said last year there was a bit of a struggle to handle the surge and presented data to LHIN to increase the hospital's capacity for a period of time.

"I really want to acknowledge the staff and physicians who demonstrated a great response last year to increased capacity and demonstrate we needed these fives beds," Marshall said. "We were able to show that we have a number of other practices in place that allow us to support those activities and these beds are one additional piece that is really required for a short-term period."

Marshall added the hospital was reimbursed for the additional work that was put into last year's surge season. She said being able to plan is much different than being reimbursed.

"Had we not been given funds then we would open beds as required, which would result in overtime," Marshall said. "We wouldn't have opportunities to hire or bring in new people. Some staff will have to work while they're sick. When staff work overtime they get tired and if they weren't sick before, they will be before and after."

Marshall added on top of the two temporary full-time nurses, part-time nurses will have increased hours to fill voids. The CEO said the hospital staff isn't immune to surge season, so they need time off as well and people to take those shifts.

In relation to surge season, the CKHA released flu immunization numbers for staff and physicians. Marshall said the most up to date numbers have staff at 57 per cent immunized and doctors at 47 per cent. While those numbers may appear low, Marshall said they are above last years and on par with the other hospitals.

"In fact, I put out a challenge on Twitter to the other CEOs at Erie St. Clair hospitals to see who ends up with the highest vaccination rates," Marshall said.

The CEO added the hospital only records physicians who got the vaccination in the CKHA. She said there is no requirement for doctors to report if they have had the immunization, so the numbers are likely higher than they appear as many physicians will get vaccinated with their families elsewhere.

Marshall said the only time the hospital can require proof of immunization from staff or doctors is if there is an outbreak and anyone who hasn't been vaccinated won't be allowed to work.

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