The 2017-2018 flu season has arrived, both in the community and in our hospitals and clinics.
Patients suspected of having the influenza virus (or other respiratory viral infections) should be placed in contact/droplet precautions on admission and individuals with signs and symptoms of a respiratory illness should not visit the hospital.
Additionally, colleagues exhibiting signs or symptoms of an influenza-like illness (fever and cough or fever and sore throat) should not report to work.
Influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent the flu. All Nebraska Medicine and UNMC colleagues are expected to document their vaccination status on this website.
Our goal is for 90 percent of colleagues and health care providers to receive the influenza vaccine. We must report our vaccination rates each year to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). So far, our vaccination rates are as follows:
- Inpatient units at Nebraska Medical Center: 84.7 percent
- Bellevue campus: 79.7 percent
- Clinical support areas: 71.7 percent
- UNMC: 58.2 percent
If you have not yet received your flu vaccination this year, there are still a handful of clinics remaining.
- Friday, Nov. 17, noon to 2 p.m., lower Storz Pavilion, Rooms 1 to 4
- Friday, Dec. 1, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., lower Storz Pavilion, Rooms 1 to 4
- Friday, Dec. 8, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., University Tower Private Dining Rooms A,B,C
Flu champions are available to give the vaccination on all inpatient units as well. Ask the lead nurse for assistance.
Additionally, vaccinations are available free-of-charge to all UNMC, Nebraska Medicine, Bellevue and Clarkson College employees (students and volunteers are not eligible) at our Immediate Care Clinic locations through Friday, Dec. 22. If you want to receive your vaccination at an Immediate Care Clinic, you may walk in Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. or from 8 to 10 p.m. on weekdays. Please note, vaccinations will not be available from 6 to 8 p.m. on weekdays due to high-patient volume.
Colleagues also may bring their families to receive flu vaccines at the Immediate Care Clinics. Family members will be billed through insurance or may pay cash for the vaccinations. Addresses of the clinics are listed below:
- Nebraska Medicine – Chalco, 8343 S. 168th Ave.
- Family Medicine at Bellevue, 2510 Bellevue Medical Center Drive, Suite 200
- Nebraska Medicine – Eagle Run, 3685 N. 129th St.
- Nebraska Medicine – Midtown, 139 S. 40th St.
Bring your employee ID with you.
All colleagues are expected to log in to the vaccination website and indicate that they’ve received the vaccine either through the organization or elsewhere, or provide a reason for declining the vaccination.