Evaluation of respiratory protection programs and practices in California hospitals during the 2009-2010 H1N1 influenza pandemic.

Background: Emergence of the novel 2009 influenza A H1N1 virus in California led to an evaluation of hospital respiratory protection programs (RPPs) and practices by the California Department of Public Health during the 2009-2010 influenza season.

Methods: Onsite evaluation of 16 hospitals consisted of interviews with managers and health care workers about RPPs and practices, review of written RPPs, and limited observations of personnel using respirators. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Workplace violence prevention programs in psychiatric units and facilities.

Psychiatric health care providers have high rates of workplace violence victimization, yet little is known about the strategies used by facilities to reduce violence. This study compared workplace violence prevention (WVP) programs in psychiatric units and facilities in California and New Jersey. Information was collected through interviews, a facility walk-through, and a review of written policies and training material.

Hospital employee assault rates before and after enactment of the california hospital safety and security act.

Purpose: This study examines changes in violent event rates to hospital employees before and after enactment of the California Hospital Safety and Security Act in 1995.

Methods: We compared pre- and post-initiative employee assault rates in California (n = 116) emergency departments and psychiatric units with those in New Jersey (n = 50), where statewide workplace violence initiatives do not exist. Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations was used to compare assault rates between a 3-year pre-enactment period (1993-1995) and a 6-year post-enactment period (1996-2001) using New Jersey hospitals as a temporal control.

Workplace violence prevention programs in hospital emergency departments.

Objective: Hospital violence is a growing concern, yet little is known about existing programs. This study compared workplace violence programs in high-risk emergency departments among a representative sample of 116 hospitals in California and 50 hospitals in New Jersey.

Methods: Information was collected through interviews, a facility walk-through, and review of written policies, procedures, and training material.