As I am sure you all know, the flu season is again upon us, and made even more urgent by the increase in the number of H1N1 cases in the greater Los Angeles area. While there has been a lot of press about H1N1 recently, it is important to remember that its symptoms and severity are in fact similar to seasonal flu, and there is no immediate cause for alarm if the proper precautions are taken.

While our patients are always top priority, I am frankly as concerned with making sure that all hospital staff gets through our busiest season with their health intact.  As healthcare workers, we must minister to the sick in their time of need, which we cannot do if we are ourselves under the weather.  Therefore, I urge you all to strictly follow the Hospital Hand and Respiratory Hygiene Plan so that we can reduce the number of sick employees and strengthen the effectiveness of the hospital throughout the upcoming flu season. To avoid a brush with H1N1 or seasonal flu:

• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Quickly dispose of used tissues.
• Wash hands regularly and thoroughly throughout the day, especially after coughing or sneezing or interacting with someone who has.
• Use the hand sanitizers located throughout the hospital for maximum effectiveness.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Flu viruses spread this way.

Of course, no matter how careful we are, sometimes we all get sick.  If you should find yourself with flu-like symptoms, please stay home until 24 hours after your symptoms subside, except to obtain flu medications and the necessary supplies.  While no one wants to leave colleagues short-handed in a crisis, employees that come to work with visible symptoms will be sent home pursuant to the Hospital’s Sick Time policy, and asked not to return to work until symptoms are gone and with a doctor’s note allowing them to return to work with or without work accommodations.  This must be done in order to limit the spread of germs, and it is the appropriate protocol for any flu season – not just this one.

Our best weapon in defense against any flu is vaccination. California law requires that all employees receive both flu and H1N1 vaccines or opt out in writing. The hospital will offer both flu and H1N1 vaccines to all employees as soon as they become available. Coast Plaza has every intention of weathering this flu season as a strong unit and serving the community with the high standards they have come to expect from us.

The Hospital is also excited to announce that is has recently expanded its capacity to help eleven additional patients at any time. This timely addition will help to ensure that we are at top functionality to serve more community patients, not only during the upcoming surge of flu season, but all year round. We also anticipate that this may help reduce the pressure on the emergency room as our patient ranks swell.

The long awaited grand reopening of the Coast Plaza Gift Shop is here.  In an effort to improve our service, the gift shop will be offering an array of magazines, flowers, novelty gifts and other such items for patients, employees and the Hospital community in general. I urge you all to check it out at your earliest convenience.

In closing, I look forward to a healthy and productive winter here at Coast Plaza, the H1N1 buzz notwithstanding.  We continue to play an important role in our community, just as they need us most.  It is only when we all work together that we are at our best, so please follow the necessary precautions to keep yourself and your coworkers free from flu in the following months.