An M.E.D. Wish for You Throughout the Year

How often do we hear the word PEACE during this Holiday Season and take it for granted. Peace On Earth will not be realized in my lifetime as we are constantly reminded of the unrest in the Middle East, Afghanistan, and so many other countries throughout the world.

As we approach another year-end, our wish for you is to be a personal soldier of PEACE. Start within yourself. As you look to make resolutions for the upcoming year, find ways to reform for a more peaceful existence. Begin with finding PEACE in your heart, spread it to your families, neighbors and workplaces. Take on PEACE this year and help transform the world.

Merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful New Year to all!

'Tis the Season
Spreading More than Good Cheer
By Mary Beth Nibberich, Executive Director

'Not what you are probably thinking….not that the Holiday Season isn't something to get excited about, but I am referring to Flu Season. The latest acronym to hit the airwaves and other media outlets is MRSA. If you haven't heard it yet, you will. MRSA stands for Methiclin-Resistant Stayphylococcus Auerus. MRSA is a type of common bacterial infection known as "staph" and is often referred to as the SUPERBUG.

Before sharing tips on how to avoid this bug getting you down here is the definition of staph according to the Centers for Disease Control:

Bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25% to30% of the population is colonized (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) in the nose with staph bacteria. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be treated with antibiotics…

MRSA is a type of staph infection that is resistant to some antibiotics. Only 1% of the population is colonized with MRSA. The good news is that it is preventable and treatable. MRSA has been deadly in some cases (mostly schools and gymnasiums) but has not affected workplace environments.

Here are some tips to prevent MRSA:

Good old-fashioned hygiene. As often as we shake hands in our line of work, it is important to wash hands frequently. Overuse of antibacterial soaps is not recommended. Your body can become resistant to these products with overusage. Plain old warm water and soap will do. But remember that duration is important. Try counting for 30 seconds or singing the ABC's slowly (best if you sing this to yourself). Also wash between your fingers and wrists.

Hang colorful signs in the employee's bathrooms as friendly reminders to practice good hygiene. I find that placing them near the mirrors or on the mirrors gets notice.

Do not overdo the use of antibiotics. Just the same way we grow impervious to antibacterial products, too much medicine runs the same risk. Oftentimes as patients, we will pressure our physicians to write scripts when we are not feeling well. If it is a viral infection, the antibiotics will not help and you run the risk of being resistant to antibiotics in the future.

Always, always take your medicine. If in fact you are prescribed an antibiotic, by all means FINISH it. Even when you start to feeling better, it is important to be compliant and finish the dosage.

It could be just a matter of time before MRSA invades the front desk, billing office, and clinical areas in your facility. Don't let this Superbug infect your operation. Wash your hands, take your meds, and stay healthy!

Listen Up, All You HR Managers
By Mary Beth Nibberich, Executive Director

Effective December 26, 2007, employers will be required to use a new I-9 form. While this news is deemed trifle by most, it is one of those noteworthy changes for hiring managers. The official name for this form is Employment Eligibility Verification. The form itself is unchanged but the list of acceptable documents to prove identity has changed.

Here is a list of the acceptable documents under List A on the new form:

1. U.S. Passport (unexpired or expired)
2. Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)
3. An unexpired foreigh passport with a temporary I-551 stamp
4. An unexpired Employment Authorization Document that contains a photograph (Forms I-77, 688, 688A, or 688B)
5. An unexpired foreign passport with an unexpired Arrival-Departure Record, Form I-94)

The omitted documents include: Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-570); Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570); the Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-151); the Reentry Permit (Form I-327); and the Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571). The government had previously indicated that several of these forms were no longer sufficient, so the update is not a surprise.

Just a brief overview regarding the proper use of this form:

• This form is to be used for all new hires (including U.S. Citizens)
• Forms should be maintained by the employer (hard-copy or electronic)
• All forms are kept for 3 years after the employee's date of hire or 1 year after termination (whichever is later)
• Failure to use this form could result in penalties and/or fines.

For a copy of the updated form, go to: http://www.uscis.gov/I-9

Source: www.shrm.org/hrnews_published/articles/CMS.023740.asp

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