Get your flu shot now through Oct. 31: three easy options for providers

Author: Elizabeth Ransom, M.D., chief medical officer, Providence Oregon
 

Providence Oregon is working to ensure that our employed providers, affiliated providers and caregivers are vaccinated against the flu to protect ourselves, our patients and our community. Not only does the vaccine reduce your risk of getting the flu, it also reduces the severity of illness if you happen to get the flu despite the vaccine, and it lowers the risk of transmitting flu to others. The vaccine also reduces the overall impact of respiratory illnesses and thus lessens the burden on hospital capacity, respirators and ventilators – all of which already are stressed due to ongoing COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Providence’s influenza policy requires the following groups to either accept the influenza vaccination or decline:

• All providers, both employed and non-employed
• All caregivers, volunteers and students
• Anyone who works in patient care areas in a facility, clinic or ambulatory setting
• Anyone who has reason to enter a patient care setting

Those who decline the flu vaccine must fill out and submit a declination form. Masks already are required due to COVID protocols.

There are three easy options for providers to receive their flu vaccination: (1) participate in mass vaccination events held at our Providence Oregon hospitals, (2) schedule an appointment with Caregiver Health Services, or (3) get your vaccine elsewhere and report it to Caregiver Health Services.

Option 1: Mass vaccination event

Mass vaccination events are open to all Providence-employed and non-employed providers. If you choose this option, just show up and complete the consent information.

When and where to participate

The flu events will be held September and October at all eight of Providence’s acute care hospitals in Oregon. Upcoming dates and locations are below:

MASS VACCINATION EVENTS - OREGON

Option 2:  Schedule an appointment with Caregiver Health Services

Caregiver Health Services is happy to vaccinate our employed and non-employed providers. When you receive your flu vaccine, we recommend you retain a copy of the form for your records. Caregiver Health Services collaborates with the regional medical staff office so that your vaccine can be counted for national reporting requirements.

Option 3: Report your vaccination received elsewhere 

If you are a Providence-employed provider and receive the flu vaccine outside of Providence, please complete your attestation on the Caregiver Health Services Pure Safety Portal from the Providence HR Service Portal. You also may email a completed flu attestation form or send a copy of the documentation that you received when you obtained your flu vaccination. Please include your name, DOB,  and employee ID to: Caregiver Health Services at oregon.regioncaregiverhealthservices@providence.org. 

If you are a provider who is not employed by Providence, email a completed flu attestation form or send a copy of the documentation that you received when you obtained your flu vaccination. Please include your name and DOB to: Caregiver Health Services at oregon.regioncaregiverhealthservices@providence.org. 

Religious or medical exceptions

If you’re unable to receive the vaccination for religious reasons or medical contraindication, you must complete an influenza declination form and send to Caregiver Health Services at oregon.regioncaregiverhealthservices@providence.org. Masks already are required due to COVID protocols.

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Why should you get a flu vaccine?

We strongly encourage all caregivers and medical staff, even those who do not provide direct patient care, to be vaccinated against influenza. It is the most effective step to help prevent contracting and spreading the flu.

In addition to the flu vaccine, please use good hand hygiene, wear your face mask and stay home if you are sick.

As flu season intensifies, we sometimes ask families to limit their access when visiting our most vulnerable patients. You will be notified when influenza visitation policies go into effect.

Documenting and reporting flu vaccines

Providence is required to report annually to the Oregon Health Authority and the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) the influenza vaccination rates of all our caregivers, licensed independent practitioners, contractors, adult volunteers and adult students. Providence expects 100% participation among practitioners; in addition, the NHSN data is publicly reported.

For more information

This is an internal site accessible only to Providence employees: (https://providence4.sharepoint.com/sites/FluVaccinationResources)

As always, we appreciate your partnership in working together to reduce the impact of influenza season. This year, more than ever before, it is important for providers and caregivers to work together to protect our communities.