Employers prepare to deal with employee absences because of swine flu

Hospitals, schools and other businesses say they're prepared for a virus that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says could infect up to 40 percent of the population.

The region's largest manufacturing employer, Procter & Gamble in Cape Girardeau County, employs more than 1,200 workers. Plant officials said it's taken such precautions against swine flu as placing hand sanitizer in bathrooms throughout the facility.

"We do this from the foundation that our people are our primary concern and we will take whatever steps are necessary to protect their health and the

health of their families," said baby care plant administrator Regina McElmurry. "Currently, all our facilities are running normally and we are confident that the plans we have in place will ensure the continued health and welfare of our employees."

The Centers for Disease Control has advised businesses to develop a plan to cope with above-average absenteeism that could occur with the H1N1 virus the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed has infected 571 people in the state. Spokesman Kit Wagar believes many more cases of the virus have infected Missourians but many health departments and physician offices have stopped testing for the virus. Wagar said many health centers and medical professionals are assuming those infected with type A influenza have H1N1. H1N1 is part of the Type A family of influenza viruses.

Gayla Tripp, infection control coordinator at Saint Francis Medical Center, said that hospital had yet to experience any staffing deficiencies due to

employees with flu-like symptoms. Tripp said the emergency room has seen about a 10 percent increase in the number of patients compared to last year, though most have been discharged and have not needed medical care or antiviral medications.

"In the case of a widespread flu outbreak causing excessive nursing absenteeism, Saint Francis has a plan in place," Tripp said. "Some nurses who are not currently in bedside nursing roles have been evaluated and offered refresher classes to familiarize them with equipment and procedures that may have changed since they were in a direct patient care role. All employees and visitors have been instructed to stay home if they are sick to prevent transmission of illness to co-workers and patients."

While employees are not required to receive seasonal flu vaccines, those who decline the free vaccine are required to meet with their personal physician to discuss the importance of the vaccine and then sign a refusal form. Those who refuse vaccination will not be terminated, spokeswoman Emily Sikes said.

The hospital has a goal of 80 percent of its employees receiving the seasonal vaccine, 5 percent more than in 2008.

Meanwhile, Southeast Missouri Hospital director of human resources Debbie Bowers said its employees are required to receive the seasonal vaccine.

The hospital has also installed special stations throughout the building featuring hand sanitizer, tissues and masks for use by visitors.

"It's an example of our organization's commitment to a healthy lifestyle," Bowers said. "Such seasonal flu immunizations should go a long way in

keeping our employees healthy."

Linda Brown, an advanced practice nurse and director of emergency services at Southeast Missouri Hospital, added that since the hospital started testing for Type A influenza on Oct. 1, 65 people have been diagnosed with the virus. Its emergency room has seen 501 people with flu-like symptoms since Oct. 1, a third of the number of people treated in the emergency room since then.

The hospitals each received 75 doses of swine flu vaccine last week.

Even small businesses have planned how to deal with employee absenteeism because of the flu.

Cora Sample, owner of Pop's Pizza, said closing her restaurant would be a last resort. If most of her six employees were absent because of H1N1, Sample said, family and others familiar with the day-to-day operations of the restaurant would fill in until the current employees recovered.

"If a whole bunch of my employees were out, that could put me in a bind, but I have confidence that we'd have enough people to fill in and help out," Sample said. "When we had a few employees out in the past, that course of action worked."

Cape Girardeau and Jackson school officials reported taking precautions such as cleaning buildings at least three times daily and informing students of the precautions they could take such as coughing into their elbow and washing their hands.

Cape Girardeau School District spokeswoman Deena Ring said officials are monitoring attendance on a daily basis and that canceling classes would be

the final option.

She said if one of its schools is temporarily closed, the district may implement such ideas as parents picking up missed class assignments or students completing assignments online. School officials have also updated the district's list of available substitutes in case teachers unexpectedly miss classes.

"We're taking this very seriously, but at the same time we don't want people to panic," Ring said. "The reality is we deal with the flu each year but H1N1 has caught a lot of attention this year. The district is doing everything it can to prepare for anything that may come up."

Dr. Beth Emmendorfer, associate superintendent of the Jackson School District, said buildings with an above-normal amount of absenteeism are receiving additional cleanings. She added that during the district's Oct. 26 professional development day the custodial staff will participate in additional preventive measure training.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

Pertinent addresses:

614 E. Adams St., Jackson, MO

301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO