ASHP InterSections Winter 2010 - 6

ashp news infocentral ASHP Flu Survey Reveals Gaps in Vaccinations of Health Care Workers A recent ASHP survey of 371 pharmacy directors at hospitals across the country revealed troubling questions about whether health care workers would choose to get vaccinated against H1N1 and seasonal flu (www.ashp.org/flusurvey). Only 37 percent of respondents reported vaccination rates over 70 percent at their hospitals. “That’s too low,” said ASHP president Lynnae Mahaney, M.B.A., FASHP. “Health care workers come into contact with so many people, it is vital that they are vaccinated to minimize the risk to patients.” ASHP advocates that all health care workers receive an annual influenza vaccination. The society’s online resources (www.youcanstoptheflu.com) provide a wealth of information for health care workers on flu prevention and treatment. Pharmacists can find resources and information about H1N1 at www.ashp.org/H1N1. CALENDAR JANUARY 14-15: ASHP Board of Directors meeting, Bethesda, Md. ASHP Members Serving on National Quality Forum Committees Ever wonder what it would be like to work directly with high-profile federal or quality organizations such as the National Quality Forum (NQF)? There are a number of ASHP members currently serving on quality and other committees tasked with medication-use policies and standards, including: • Sheila Botts, NQF Mental Health Patient Outcomes Steering Committee • Phil Schneider, NQF Serious Reportable Events Steering Committee • Karl Gumpper, NQF Clinical Decision Support Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) • Keith Campbell, NQF Diabetes TAP, Patient Outcomes Project • Sarah Spinler, NQF Cardiovascular TAP, Patient Outcomes Project • Rita Shane, NQF Patient Advisory Steering Committee • Patrick Cory, National Priorities Partnership (NPP) Care Coordination Workgroup • Curtis Collins, NPP Safety Workgroup • Bruce Berger, NPP Patient/Family Engagement Workgroup • Jannet Carmichael and Jill Burkiewicz, CMS Technical Expert Panel on Medication Measures FEBRUARY 7-8: Affiliated State Societies Executives meeting, Bethesda, Md. 10: Commission on Goals meeting, Bethesda, Md. MARCH 4-7: Commission on Credentialing meeting, Bethesda, Md. 25: ASHP Research & Education Foundation Board meeting, Bethesda, Md. APRIL 14-16: Board of Directors meeting, Bethesda, Md. JUNE 6-9: ASHP Summer Meeting, Tampa, Fla. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists The NQF and NPP are just several of many different opportunities for pharmacists to make a difference in medication-use policies and standards. And by providing real-time input and feedback on proposed measures, pharmacists have greater influence on patient care in the U.S. From the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services to the Federal Drug Administration, ASHP has a high rate of success placing members in key positions. If you are interested in serving, send an e-mail to quality@ashp.org with the following information: first and last name, credentials, title, e-mail address, work phone number, specialty or area in which you are interested and qualified to be nominated for, and any experience you have had in the area of quality improvement and measure development (note: prior experience not required).

ASHP InterSections Winter 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHP InterSections Winter 2010