Brooks Memorial Hospital

Infection Control & Employee Health

The focus of this department is optimal care of patients and the safety of health care workers. The program assures regulations established by the Center of Disease Control (CDC), New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are adhered to. This department also provides educational programs, a surveillance system for infections, infection control measures for general patient care and the hospital's physical environment and is a resource for employees, patients and their families.

Infection Control & Employee Health

Cough Hygiene Stations at Brooks

With cold and flu season upon us, Brooks is taking several important steps to help encourage all visitors, outpatients and anyone with respiratory symptoms to help stop the spread of germs. The Infection Control Department has installed Cough Hygiene Stations near the hospitals main elevator, in the Emergency Department Waiting Room and in the Outpatient Registration area. These new stations are placed near hand sanitizer dispensers and are stocked with respiratory masks and Kleenex. The public is encouraged to utilize these materials to help minimize the spread of respiratory infections.

 

LOCATION

Second Floor

PHONE

(716) 363-7298

 

Infection Control Employee Health

Lisa Karalus, RN, BSN

 

HOURS

Mon - Fri 7:00 am - 3:30 pm

 

Flu Clinic Point of Distribution (POD)

Preparing for the unexpected is something that hospitals around the nation, including Brooks Memorial Hospital, due every day.  We need to know what to do, and how to do it before an emergency occurs, and that takes practice. The Point of Distribution (POD) Drill that was recently held did more than help hospital personnel practice mass vaccinations in an emergency situation; it also provided flu shots for many employees and their families.

 

The NYS Department of Health provided Brooks with an additional supply of flu serum this year, making our first ever POD practice possible. Beginning at 4 pm on November 13, the Physical Therapy Department was converted into a distribution center and POD volunteers worked together to process and inoculate 29 employees and their family members in less than 3 hours.

 

A big thank you goes out to all of the staff members who took advantage of the Flu Vaccine POD for their family members. Your participation helped the drill organizers really take a look at the POD plan and revise areas which could be improved upon.