SSM Health Care of Wisconsin (the parent company of St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Mary’s Janesville Hospital and St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo) is looking to create a safer environment for patients and staff this flu season by making sure all employees are vaccinated against the flu virus.
Effective July 1, 2011, SSM of Wisconsin (along with the entire SSM Health Care System) will require all employees receive flu vaccinations – except for individuals who have medical or religious reasons for not being able to receive the shot.
“Vaccination is an easy, safe and effective means to prevent infections - not just to our patients, but also ourselves and our families,” said Ellen Smith, a nurse epidemiologist at St. Mary’s Hospital. “And coupled with frequent hand washing, we’ll be doing all we can to prevent illness from spreading.”
In 2009, SSM Health Care adopted an influenza education and vaccination policy where all employees who declined receiving a flu shot were asked to sign a statement saying they understood the risk to themselves, their patients and their families. That year, 73 percent of SSM employees received vaccination. In 2010, 75 percent of SSM employees received the influenza vaccine.
“A healthy workforce is crucial when it comes to caring for patients,” said Gerald Lefert, Interim Regional President and CEO for SSM Health Care of Wisconsin. “In the end we’re confident our patients, visitors and employees will be safer because of this wellness initiative.”
SSM Health Care of Wisconsin serves an 18-county area in south-central Wisconsin, owning and operating St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo, and their two respective nursing homes along with the future St. Mary’s Janesville Hospital. SSMHC/WI is also affiliated with Columbus Community Hospital, Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville, Edgerton Hospital and Health Services, Stoughton Hospital Association, and Boscobel Area Health Care. SSMHC/WI and its physician partner Dean Clinic collaborate in a number of health care services, including St. Mary’s Dean Ventures (SMDV) which sponsors primary care clinics throughout the 18-county service area.
SSM Health Care is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system with an international reputation as a pioneer in the use of quality measures to improve care. With 5,400 physicians and 23,000 employees in four states, SSM is one of the largest employers in every community it serves. It is located in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Illinois and Missouri. In every region, SSM facilities forge creative relationships in the community to foster healthier people and healthier neighborhoods. Through these relationships and at its various sites, SSM serves more than 2 million people annually.