Banner Churchill wins award for immunization rate

FALLON, Nev., March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Banner Churchill Community Hospital was recently honored in Reno by Immunize Nevada during its 15^th Annual Silver Syringe Awards. Banner Churchill won the award for Highest Hospital Employee Influenza Immunization Rate in the state of Nevada. Immunize Nevada is a statewide network of individuals, businesses, public health entities and organizations committed to improving and protecting the health of children, teens, adults and seniors in Nevada.  

"It's an honor to be recognized for all the hard work we've done to make sure we hit complete compliance with Banner Health's flu policy," said Vicki Rice, RN Occupational Health Supervisor at Banner Churchill Community Hospital. "It's important we protect the health of our staff and volunteers so that the health of our patients is ensured."

Banner Churchill met its flu compliance goal in late November which means 100-percent of its staff and volunteers are now vaccinated against the flu. This came as a response to Banner Health's new mandatory "No Flu for You" vaccine policy. The policy requires all employees, employed physicians, volunteers, vendors, contractors and health care students to be vaccinated or to apply for and receive an exemption, which can be given based on religious or medical reasons.

Immunizations were provided free to all Banner Health employees, medical staff and volunteers late last year. Banner Churchill was one of the first among Banner's 23 hospitals to hit the complete compliance mark. It's worth noting the hospital had three employees -- Rice, Medical Assistant Susan Linden , and Infection Control Nurse Laura Babiarz -- immunize more than 500 people within a short timeframe.

The flu is a contagious disease and contributes to more than 36,000 preventable deaths annually in the United States, and vaccination is a very effective way to prevent it. According to the Centers of Disease Control, flu vaccination of health care workers has been shown to prevent death in patients, as well as reduce the influenza infection.

About Banner Churchill Community Hospital
Banner Churchill Community Hospital in Fallon, Nev., opened in 1996 and is a part of Banner Health, a nonprofit healthcare system with 23 hospitals in seven states. It offers acute and primary care, including comprehensive Emergency care with an ambulance service that covers more than 5,900 square miles. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com/Churchill.

Contact: Public Relations
media@bannerhealth.com

SOURCE Banner Churchill Community Hospital

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