Immunize Nevada Names The Valley Health System the 2017 Outstanding Corporate Partner
VHS hospitals also achieve Healthy People 2020 Distinction
The Valley Health System was recognized by Immunize Nevada as an immunization champion at the 19th Annual Silver Syringe Awards Ceremony held in Las Vegas on April 27. The company received the Outstanding Corporate Partner award due to its collective efforts to effectively ensure the health and protection from vaccine-preventable diseases for Nevadans.
Employee health nurses at Centennial Hills, Summerlin and Valley hospitals were also recognized as Healthy People 2020 honorees for their work to achieve at least 90 percent vaccination of employees against seasonal influenza. They are: Alfreda Graham, RN, on behalf of Centennial Hills Hospital; Jane Rushton, RN, on behalf of Summerlin Hospital; and Monica Aragon, RN, on behalf of Valley Hospital. Each year, the hospitals host a month-long flu shot drive at various times of day to provide free immunizations to employees. For employees who decline the shot, strict measures are in place, such as wearing a mask within six feet of patients, per hospital policy.
“Our staff cares for thousands of patients each year, and we understand firsthand how medically vulnerable they are,” said Karla Perez, Regional Vice President of The Valley Health System. “We are proud to receive this award from Immunize Nevada. Encouraging our employees, members of our medical staff and vendors who frequently visit the hospital to receive a flu vaccine every year is a patient safety priority for us.”
Hospitalized patients receive the flu shot between October and March of every year, unless they choose to decline. Patients over 65 also have the option to receive a pneumonia shot during their hospitalization.
The 19th Annual Silver Syringe Awards is held in conjunction with National Immunization Awareness Week (NIIW). NIIW is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases. It celebrates the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy communities.
“The Annual Silver Syringe Awards have become a prestigious award ceremony celebrating immunization champions in Nevada,” said, Immunize Nevada Executive Director, Heidi Parker. “The awards ceremony gives us the opportunity to recognize passionate individuals and organizations that are committed to making Nevada a healthier state.”
There are 15 Silver Syringe categories to recognize healthcare providers and community partners, nominated by their peers, as exemplifying outstanding immunization practices in a specific category.
Silver Syringe began in 1998 as a way to celebrate Nevada’s immunization successes and champions. Today, the event has become a statewide tradition for Nevada’s immunization and healthcare stakeholders. This annual ceremony is an opportunity to honor those immunization champions who provide excellent service, but may not otherwise be recognized.