All Crozer-Keystone Workers Vaccinated

For the first time, Crozer-Keystone Health System required that employees, volunteers and affiliated medical staff receive an influenza vaccination. Crozer-Keystone administrators report that the health system achieved 100 percent compliance in this goal.

Crozer-Keystone has approximately 6,800 employees, more than 1,000 physicians with privileges at CKHS hospitals, and more than 1,000 volunteers. A small number of people from these groups were exempt from receiving a vaccination for religious or medical reasons.

“I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in this tremendous achievement,” says Eric Dobkin, M.D., vice president of Quality and Patient Safety for Crozer-Keystone. “It says a lot about our health system’s commitment to the health of our patients, our patients’ family members and everyone who visits to our hospitals and physician offices. But by being vaccinated, members of the Crozer-Keystone family are also protecting themselves, their co-workers and their family members.”

More than 36,000 Americans die from seasonal flu annually. Patients in hospitals are at the highest risk of infection and potentially life-threatening complications.

Crozer-Keystone’s vaccination program began in October and was officially completed on Dec. 31. A system-wide, multidisciplinary committee worked to spread the word about the requirement and to ensure that receiving a vaccination was convenient as possible. The effort included offering vaccinations at various times – including early mornings, nights and weekends - at all hospitals and at Crozer-Keystone Health Network sites.

“We could not have achieved this goal without the outstanding efforts of many, including members of the health system’s Quality and Patient Safety, Infection Control, Occupational Health, Employee Health, Pharmacy, Medical Staff and Human Resources departments, as well as the Crozer-Keystone Health Network.

"Of course, I’d like to also thank everyone who did their part to roll up their sleeves and get the shot,” says Jackeline Iacovella, M.D., chief of the Section of Infectious Disease at Delaware County Memorial Hospital and head of the committee overseeing of the flu vaccination program.

To learn more about the Crozer-Keystone Health System, visit www.crozerkeystone.org.  

Press release provided by Crozer-Keystone Health System.