Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Leaders Lead in flu prevention

At Executive Meeting, the Chiefs get their flu shots

 

                It was almost a normal luncheon meeting for the medical leaders of the Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Hospital. The chiefs, who are the executives of each clinical department, were given a healthy meal, a lecture about their new hospital, opening in December 2014, a preview of some new clinical programs -- and flu shots.

                “These are our clinical leaders,” said Dr. Jim O’Donnell, physician in chief of the Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center. “And they should be the leaders in getting their flu shots and protecting themselves and our patients.”

                Kaiser Permanente’s flu clinics don’t open until September 28th, but Dr. O’Donnell invited the hospital’s rolling “flu cart” to the monthly Chief’s Meeting in Redwood City a few days early. The cart is run by a team of nurses and carries the syringes pre-loaded with flu vaccine, needles, antiseptic swabs, patch bandages, and everything else needed for the team to roll from floor-to-floor in the medical center and provide staff with flu shots.

                “If a health-care provider has the flu, obviously they’ll stay home,” says Dr.O’Donnell, who is a pediatrician. “But often caregivers can be contagious before flu symptoms start, so it’s safer for our patients if the caregivers are inoculated before the start of the flu season.”

                According to Kaiser Permanente infectious-disease specialists, the vaccine available this year is a good match for the influenza virus that is circulating in the Southern Hemisphere. And they say the vaccine supply will be excellent.

                Redwood City chiefs and medical leaders started lining up for their injections before making a stop at the lunch buffet.  There were jokes about who would cry or who would wince but in reality, all of the medical leaders were stoic as the needles went into their upper arms. About 20 of 30 medical leaders got their flu shots at the luncheon meeting. Most of the remainder had received their shots earlier.

                Asked of one physician if he expected the shot to hurt, he smiled and said:  “Ask me when it’s over.”  He didn’t even feel the needle going in.

                ((Kaiser Permanente Flu Clinics open September 28th for members.))