Global Needlestick Prevention Group Honors Award Recipients
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It Marks the 4th Annual International Sharps Injury Prevention Awareness Month
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 22, 2005
ISIPS, the first international needlestick prevention
group, announced that six recipients are being honored for reducing
sharps injuries with a Sharps Injury Prevention Award with an
additional 34 recipients receiving honorable mention awards. These
awards are part of the International Sharps Injury Prevention
Awareness Month activities being commemorated during December, 2005
starting with World AIDS Day, December 1st.
A number of very worthy individuals were nominated for the ISIPS
2005 International Sharps Injury Prevention Awards. Nominations were
reviewed by a nominating committee, comprised of representatives from
Terumo Medical, Tyco Kendall Healthcare, Ritract Medical, BD,
Retractable Technologies Inc., B. Braun, Managing Infection Control
and the International Sharps Injury Prevention Society (ISIPS). We are
grateful to these organizations for sponsoring the awards this year.
We thank those individuals that have made a difference in getting
the message of sharps injury prevention to healthcare workers and
employers around the globe. We owe a debt of gratitude to those that
have provided a healthier climate for healthcare workers and others.
The ISIPS 2005 Sharps Injury Prevention Awards have been given to
honor six individuals who have demonstrated creative, consistent
contributions to the field of needlestick prevention. For complete
information on the recipients go to
www.isips.org/reports/Articles/MIC1205p68.pdf
The ISIPS 2005 International Sharps Injury Prevention Award
recipients are:
Brian French
Brian M. French, RN, MS, BC is a professional development
coordinator, The Knight Nursing Center for Clinical and Professional
Development, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston. As a member
of the interdisciplinary Needlestick Reduction Task Force since its
inception in 2000, his team of educators work collaboratively with
others to evaluate and implement the safest, most clinically effective
and cost effective sharp safe products for patients and staff. The
committee's collaborative efforts have resulted in a steady decline in
injuries and exposures from the highest risk products through product
choice and comprehensive educational initiatives.
Dr. Robyn Gershon
As an occupational health and safety researcher with more than 15
years of experience in conducting complex occupational health research
studies, Dr. Robyn Gershon, Associate Professor, Principal
Investigator, WTC Evacuation Study, Mailman School of Public Health,
Columbia University, has spent the past 20 years studying and working
on identifying the risk factors for needlestick injuries. Her work has
included studies of devices as well as behavioral and organizational
factors. Dr. Gershon's studies have been important in showing work
stress as a predictor for why healthcare workers do not adopt
precautions relating to protective devices. She has developed
Participatory Action Teams to develop worker-centered approaches to
reduce needlesticks, a challenge she finds greatly worthwhile.
"Working directly with front line healthcare workers and being able to
appreciate their enthusiasm and interest in protecting themselves and
reducing their risk is a rewarding experience," she says.
Renee Gould
An Advanced Practice Nurse in the Medical Services Division,
Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care, University of Iowa
Hospitals and Clinics, Ms. Gould's responsibilities include quality
and safety improvements, and standards development. Ms. Gould has
spoken on sharps injury prevention and safety products for a wide
range of audiences, from local Rotary Clubs to the Governor of Iowa's
Needlestick Study Group. She educates staff on the products available
to reduce their risk of injury.
Renee Gould is often called upon as a consultant to others, both
inside and outside the hospital. For her dedicated service in sharps
injury prevention, Ms. Gould received the Improving Your Workplace
Award from the University of Iowa in 2001 for: "being instrumental in
evaluating, disseminating, educating and supporting the use of safety
products to decrease needlestick work-related injuries through the
implementation of sharps safety products."
Susan Loomis
Susan Loomis, MSN, RN CS is often described as being ahead of the
curve in recognizing the safety issue associated with sharps long
before other organizations became aware. "As a leader and advocate on
sharps safety, Susan has been tireless in informing staff and
negotiating for funds to obtain safety devices," her nominator says.
"She is superb in communicating to staff at all levels in the
organization and involves staff in reviewing and selecting products.
Because of her leadership, inclusion and rigor, sound product choices
were made." Ms. Loomis serves as the Director of Occupational Health
Services for Partners Healthcare System in Boston. As a member of the
Massachusetts General Hospital Needlestick Reduction Task Force, she
has assisted with the role of developing the task force's mission and
objectives. This task force serves a crucial role in mitigating risk
of exposure to bloodborne pathogen. Ms. Loomis has been active on the
task force in the development of data systems to capture and analyze
exposure variables, measure outcomes related to needlestick reduction
activity and assist task force members with promotion and publication
of task force activity.
Elizabeth Maccario
Elizabeth Maccario, RN, BSN, has been involved in needlestick
prevention since 1999. As an Infection Control Nurse at the VANYHarbor
Health Care Facility, Brooklyn Campus, she has been involved in all
aspects of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. An active member
of the Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Prevention Committee, Ms. Maccario
gives lectures on needlestick prevention to new residents and interns
monthly, and includes it in monthly new employee orientation. In
addition to needlestick injury prevention, emphasis is placed on the
steps to take during a needlestick injury including the importance of
reporting the incident and demonstration of safety devices. An active
member of the Commodities Standards Committee, Ms. Maccario
participates in the trial, evaluations and decision making for the
final selection and implementation of a device. She goes out of her
way to find a safety device when the current one is not well liked.
She has conducted numerous trials on new safety devices utilizing
input of all direct care givers in order to obtain the safest
products. As a result of these efforts, there has been an on-going
decrease in needlestick injuries at the Brooklyn Campus over the past
three years.
Becky McKinney
As the Infection Control Manager for St. Vincent's Hospital in
Birmingham, Ala., Becky McKinney has been a nurse for more than 26
years. "I have been working in Infection Control for the past 11
years, and I love my job," says Ms. McKinney. "With responsibility for
surveillance, education, tracking, trending and assorted other tasks
that seem to fall under infection control, my job can be quite
interesting." Ms. McKinney organized the Sharps Injury Prevention
Group (SIPG) which is comprised of front-line healthcare workers to
analyze sharps injuries, review sharps injury prevention products and
recommend solutions/products for trial or use. "Ms. McKinney has
worked tirelessly with purchasing to get products in house as they
have become available over the years," explains her nominator. "She
teaches about the safety products in orientation and encourages all
associates to use the safety products available."
"I feel very honored to have been nominated and selected as an
award winner," Ms. McKinney states. "I would like to acknowledge this
is not something that was done all alone. We had administrative
support to purchase safety devices, excellent follow-up through our
Personnel Health Department--Linda Pickard, Roxanne Bagby and Pat
Little, long hours of training and retraining by Paula McCullough and
tireless record entry by Pat Fulk, our assistant."
Honorable Mentions
We recognize the following individuals for the contributions they
have made to sharps safety. For their respective efforts they have
been awarded honorable mention certificates:
-- May Alabado
May Agnes Alabado is the Assistant Director of Nursing at The
Moorings of the Presbyterian Homes in Arlington Heights, Ill.
-- David Alexandrou
After graduating from the University of South Florida (USF) in
2001 with a bachelors degree in nursing, David N. Alexandrou, RN, BSN,
has worked in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the James A. Haley
Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Fla.
-- Baptist Hospital East, Safer Sharps/Exposure Prevention
Committee
Members of the multi-department team include: Patsy Adams, Tony
Bohn, Laurie Bliven, Pam Brown, Beth Browning, Cathy Dougherty, Trish
Ferris, Sandy Haile, Bonnie Henle, Diana Huber, Janet Kaiser, Pam
Kayrouz, Janice Lattus, Nancy Montfort, Charlotte Mudd, Valinda Petri,
Jacqui Reynolds, Nicole Seraphine, Mary Margret Spann, Larry Spear,
Dottie Strother and Anita Taylor.
-- Barry Berler
In 2000 Barry Berler, an avid entrepreneur and inventor,
revolutionized the safety syringe industry upon submittal of the first
of three patents pertaining to the innovative SafeTip syringe.
-- Lisa Black
Lisa Black, RN, from Reno, Nev. was occupationally infected with
HIV/HCV through an occupational needlestick injury in 1998. Since her
dual seroconversion, Ms. Black has spoken extensively about her
experience in the United States, Europe and Asia. She also has been
instrumental in the success of state and national needle safety and
worker's compensation reform legislation.
-- Charlotte Cruz
As Housekeeping Manager for Edward Hospital in Naperville, Ill.,
Charlotte Cruz and her team are dedicated to safety in the hospital as
they make sure the sharps containers.
-- Clare Edelmayer
Clare Edelmayer, RN, MT (ASCP) , MS, CIC, has been the Infection
Control Coordinator at Doylestown Hospital in Doylestown, Pa. since
1991.
-- Lynn Gove
Lynn Gove, RN, CIC is the Director of Infection Control for
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, N.J. Ms. Gove
graduated from Misericordia School of Nursing in Philadelphia in 1964.
She has worked in various capacities in the nursing profession
entering into the field of infection control in 1979.
-- Dr. Dietrich Grabis
As president and COB of ITG-Medical in Road Lodi, Calif., Dr.
Dietrich Grabis invented one of the most advanced retractable safety
syringe devices, receiving three patents and FDA approval.
-- Robin Haag
A champion of safety throughout her 30 year career as a nurse,
Robin Haag is currently the president of APIC Chapter 13 and is the
Director of Infection Control and HIV Services at Coney Island
Hospital, a New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation 350-bed
acute care facility located in Brooklyn, N.Y.
-- Kristine Heiser
As a founding member of the Safety Device Task Force at St.
Peter's Hospital in Albany, N.Y, Kristine Heiser, RN has been
chairperson of the committee since 2003. She was the first
point-of-care nurse to chair the multidisciplinary committee.
-- Wendy Hess
As Director of the Infection Control Division at Hackensack
University Medical Center in Hackensack, N.J., Wendy Hess has been at
the forefront of sharps injury prevention for many years.
-- Deborah Hodapp
Working in Cardiac Telemetry at Edward Hospital in Naperville,
Ill., Deborah Hodapp, RN, is conscientious in her efforts for sharps
injury prevention, setting a good example for both new and experienced
staff.
-- Andy Hu
Andy Hu has successfully developed several devices with unique
safety and low cost features to prevent sharps injuries. These devices
include: Auto Retractable Safety Scalpel, Vacuum Operated Auto
Retractable Safety Syringe, and Vacuum Operated Retractable IV
Catheter.
-- Dr. Yvan J. F. Hutin
Dr. Yvan J. F. Hutin is a World Health Organization (WHO) Medical
Officer stationed as resident adviser for the India Field Epidemiology
Training Programme (FETP) of the National Institute of Epidemiology
(NIE), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. As part of his public health
career, he worked in Burkina Faso (West Africa), in Uganda (East
Africa) and at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland where he
was in charge of the secretariat of the Safe Injection Global Network
(SIGN) alliance.
-- Dr. Amandua Jacinto
Dr. Amandua Jacinto has worked for 18 years as a doctor in rural
Uganda in both clinical and management positions, and has been medical
superintendent at general and regional referral hospitals in Uganda.
In 1999, Dr. Jacinto was appointed the Commissioner for Health
Services (Clinical Services) in the Ministry of Health of Uganda. With
the challenge of safety in health services, the ministry has
formulated an Infection Strategy from which Safe Injections Policy and
Guidelines have been developed. Uganda has now changed to the use of
syringes with re-use prevention features in the Curative Services.
-- Patricia Jagoe
As OR Clinical Manager at WakeMed Health and Hospitals Raleigh
Campus, Patricia Jagoe, RN, BSN, CNOR, oversees a 22-room OR at the
hospital's Level II trauma center located in Raleigh, N.C.
-- Satish B. Kaipilyawar
Dr. Satish B. Kaipilyawar, Senior Program Manager, leads the PATH
Andhra Pradesh (AP) Partnership office in Hyderabad, India. In his
role, Dr. Kaipilyawar leads injection safety work, including
coordinating sharps disposal systems and disseminating experience
nationally. He has designed, introduced and implemented use of safety
boxes resulting in reduction of accidental needlestick injuries for
healthcare workers serving the population of 80 million in Andhra
Pradesh.
-- Patty Laird
In addition to her role as Nurse Manager of a 42-bed Surgical
Medical Care Center at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Ind., Patty
Laird, RN, MSN, OCN, has worked diligently as leader of the hospital
Needleless Team since 1999.
-- Ann Lewis
Ann Lewis, RN, ICP at Genesis Medical Center-Illinois Campus in
Silvis, Ill. has worked with various teams over the years to select
safety devices to meet employee needs.
-- LifeCare Hospital Team
Lynette Smith, RN, BSN and Infection Control Coordinator; Leilani
Mallare, BN and Manager of Education; and Nancy Gagorik, RN, CRNP and
Employee Health coordinator have worked collaboratively utilizing a
transdisciplinary approach to implement a Zero Needle Stick injury
culture at LifeCare Hospital of Pittsburgh.
-- Lorna MacKinnon
Lorna MacKinnon is Infection Control Nurse at Mid Coast Hospital
in Brunswick, Maine.
-- Colleen McKinney
Colleen McKinney leads the IV team and heads the charge for
reducing needle sticks at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Ill.
-- Fran Pagen
Fran Pagen is the Nursing Program Specialist, Communicable
Disease, at Sarasota County Health Department in Sarasota, Fla.
-- Michael Poole
As chair of The Poole Organisation in Jersey in the Channel
Islands, Michael Poole was involved with the development of the Auto
Disable Syringe with the World Health Organization, Unicef and the
White House from 1991 to 1993.
-- Linda Rose
As a 23-year employee with SSM St. Mary's Health Center in St.
Louis with over 2,500 employees.
-- Lynda Ruckman
Lynda Ruckman, RN, MS, COHN-S, is the Director of Employee Health
Services and Chair of the Occupational Exposures Committee (OEC) at
All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla.
-- Lillian Salerno
Lillian Salerno serves as a Health Policy Advisor in Washington
D.C.
-- Cameron Schmidt
Chairperson of the Needlestick Prevention Committee at Erie County
Medical Center in Buffalo, N.Y.
-- Kay Stauffer
She has served as the Infection Control Practitioner at Shands AGH
in Gainesville, Florida for 10 years.
-- Dorothy Thomas
She has been a champion for patients and staff in supporting the
needleless environment at the Miami Children's Hospital in Miami, Fla.
-- Elaine L. Watson
Elaine L. Watson, RN, CIC, has been an Infection Control Nurse
with the VA Western New York Healthcare System for the past 24 years.
-- Lisa Weber
Lisa Weber, RN, BSN, has worked at Edward Hospital in Naperville,
Ill. for the past six years.
-- Susan Wilburn
Susan Wilburn, MPH, BSN, RN, is a Nurse Consultant with a
specialty in occupational and environmental health.
For information about the International Sharps Injury Prevention
Society call 801-280-8797, email info@isips.org, or access
www.isips.org.
CONTACT:
ISIPS, South Jordan
Ron Stoker, 801-280-8797
info@isips.org