News

MMR Vaccine

Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccine provides excellent protection against these 3 diseases. All VUMC faculty/staff must provide proof of immunization or immunity against rubella, and those born on or after 1/1/1957 must provide proof of immunization or immunity against measles and mumps also. MMR vaccines are provided at no charge to employees when needed to meet VUMC immunization compliance requirements. People with a medical reason for why they cannot take the vaccine can receive a medical deferral from OHC as appropriate. Vaccines are available at multiple locations:

What to Do When an Employee Comes to Work Sick

If you think the employee has one of the following conditions, ask the employee to wear a surgical face mask and report to Occupational Health as soon as possible. Chicken Pox Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Measles Tuberculosis Pink Eye (mask not needed) It is recommended that people not be in the workplace when they have a fever and respiratory symptoms. You should let your employees know this recommendation and encourage them to use sick time when appropriate.

Working With Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a chemical used in embalming and tissue preservation, as well as in cold sterilization. Acute exposure to formaldehyde may result in pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), central nervous system (CNS) depression, or pneumonitis (inflammation of the lung tissue). Chronic exposure may cause irritation of the skin, mucous membranes or respiratory tract. Repeated exposure to formaldehyde may result in an allergic response. It is also a potential carcinogen. Primary exposure routes are inhalation and skin absorption.

Working with Radioactive Iodine

When patients are treated with radioactive iodine, their blood and body fluids such as urine and vomit can contain the radioactive drug. Caregivers should understand the risks of exposure. There are two different types of radiation risks: Thyroid exposure: Having the radioactive iodine absorbed by your thyroid gland. External beam radiation: Getting radiation exposure from the contaminated body fluids, just like you would from an X-ray. Preventing thyroid exposure

What to do When an Employee Calls in Sick

If your employee is out more than 3 consecutive days, or plans to be out that long, notify the employee that the condition might qualify for FMLA. The FMLA request and approval process includes medical certification in which the treating provider provides appropriate documentation to HR of the individual's severity of illness. Other than FMLA documentation, please do not request doctor's notes for sick time use. A doctor's note is not required for an employee to use sick time and will not change whether the absence counts as an occurrence.