Hospice Volunteering & Flu Shots

Posted by Greg Schneider on October 2, 2009 at 12:54pm
Flu vaccinations are a hot topic this year. Yesterday I found this story British Columbia suspends flu shot campaign over H1N1 concerns. The decision was announced Monday morning by provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall, who characterized this year's flu season as an "emerging and complex scenario." I know that New York is requiring mandatory H1N1 flu vaccinations for every healthcare worker. I would like to hear from anyone that can discuss what their hospice is doing about this issue. Also interested in your opinions about mandatory vaccinations. Thanks. Greg Schneider President, HVA

You need to be a member of Hospice Community Forum to add comments!

Join Hospice Community Forum

Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Frances Shani Parker October 2, 2009 at 4:52pm
    Sitting here reading your linked article, while feeling the soreness in my arm from yesterday’s seasonal flu shot, was not a pleasant experience. I read, “…a new Canadian study -- which has not yet been peer reviewed or published --that found those who receive the seasonal flu vaccine become two times more likely to get H1N1.” Oh my! I guess this calls for more positive thoughts and preventive actions on my part. Fortunately, I lead a healthy lifestyle.

    TB tests have been mandatory for so long, I’m not surprised about mandatory flu shots. Personally, I am against mandatory flu shots at this time. More research is needed regarding how they affect people. I expect there will be some lawsuits about this requirement.
    • Greg Schneider > Frances Shani Parker October 3, 2009 at 8:25am
      I agree with you. The issue of mandatory flu shots has gone to court before and it was found to be unlawful. Do not know the jurisdiction(s) of the lawsuit(s).
This reply was deleted.
 

Blog Posts

CAREGIVERS STORE

Recently Published!!
by Maryclaire Torinus

Surviving Hospice: A Chaplain's Journey into the Big Business of Dying Plus: How To Find a Trustworthy Hospice 

This narrative is an insider’s look into the hijacking of hospice by private equity and professional investors and the subsequent harm to patients, their families, and to the interdisciplinary clinical teams. It was released by a NYC publisher on October 31, 2023. For sale on Amazon.

The author, a hospice chaplain, tells end-of-life stories of her patients who were harmed by financially-motivated policies. This is a book for anyone who is embarking on making a choice about a hospice for their loved one, working chaplains, those in training, and those interested in what dying is like with a hospice who places patients as their primary stakeholders.

Maryclaire's experience working for an owner who sold to a private equity firm helped her to realize that the reputation and viability of hospice is in jeopardy. Her goal is to alert all who love hospice to rid it of professional investors.

— Stacy Juba, author, editor, and award-winning health journalist

"Powerful, beautifully written, and eye-opening, this book spotlights the inner workings of a multi-billion-dollar industry and the effect on patients, families, and hospice staff. The author shares poignant accounts of hospice at its best and worst and the hard-hitting truths she learned on her journey. A must-read for family members exploring hospice care."

— Laura Kukowski, CEO, editor, For-Profit Badger Hospice, LLC

"Maryclaire Torinus speaks with authority, providing this essential handbook for choosing a hospice care team and why that selection really matters."

— Greg Schneider President, HVA, co-author of The Changing Face of Hospice Volunteering in Hospice and Palliative Care 

"When I first found out that Maryclaire Torinus was writing this book, I immediately contacted her because in my 25+ years supporting hospice volunteers, I have seen a gradual decline in the quality of care volunteers are permitted to provide the dying and their families. There are a variety of reasons for this that I describe in the Foreward of this book. Maryclaire provides invaluable insights that everyone should know, along with solutions to help others make the right choice in choosing a hospice."

Buy Now