HealthComm LLC

Not as a kid. Not as a United States Marine. Not even when I worked in hospital administration, and the hospital employee health nurse Sheila would visit my office with her annual reminder that it was time to line up for a preventive dose of the flu. I simply shook my head and declined (more or less) politely.

But this time around, things are a bit different because this year we’re battling a flu that’s something more — more troublesome, more worrisome, more scary — than the seasonal variety that I was willing to risk. This year we’re dealing with H1N1, a virulent, deadly strain of the influenza virus. It’s highly contagious and already widespread — abnormally so for this time of year — in many parts of the U.S. So even though my former job didn’t put me into daily contact with patients, if I were still working in the hospital, or in any other clinical setting, I’d suck it up. I’d roll up my sleeve and take the shot. It’s the only sensible thing to do.

Health care workers, I know some of you are taking offense at being told by your employers that H1N1 vaccinations are mandatory. But there are three very simple reasons to get the shot that outweigh any argument against it.

1. Do it for yourself.

2. Do it for your patients.

3. Do it for the people who care about you and depend on you.

The H1N1 virus is no joke. Even if you question the efficacy of the vaccine or feel your civil rights are being violated or just plain don’t like needles, the fact is your chance of contracting the flu is exponentially diminished if you have been vaccinated. And if you don’t catch it, you can’t spread it.

So yes, this year, even if you think you don’t want to and unless there’s a medical reason why you can’t, get a flu shot. You’ll be glad you did. Plus, Sheila would be proud.

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Half million additional nurses needed by 2025 – The Examiner

Family doctors become rarer – The Raleigh News & Observer

A move in Washington to cure doctor shortage – The Tampa Tribune

Health Care Bipartisanship Falling Apart? – CBS News

Discord on Health Care Dulls Luster Of New Pacts – The Washington Post

Healthcare reform gets boost from hospital groups – The LA Times

Political Wisdom: Abortion Debate Pops Up In Health Care Reform – The Wall Street Journal

The Best- And Worst-Paying Jobs For Doctors – Forbes

Recession stalls nursing shortage – for now – The Tennessean

Prime Time Nurse – The Atlantic

Nursing programs expanding to meet demand – Fierce Healthcare

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Growing primary physician shortage complicates reform – The Examiner

Physician Shortage Could Hinder Health Reform – Kaiser Health News

Dems to show how they will find $1 trillion – The Hill

Health Care: Costs And Reform – Forbes

A hot button in healthcare reform: US role as insurance provider – The Christian Science Monitor

Health-care reform: Barack Obama’s plan may cost blue states more than red states – The Chicago Tribune

Obama renews support for public health insurance plan – Reuters

Could California’s Crisis Kill Health Reform? – The Atlantic

U.S. hospitals offer $155 billion for health reform: report – Reuters

Financing Health Care Reform – A NY Times Editorial

$30M on tap for nursing schools – Dallas TX Business Journal

Nursing graduates find tighter job market – The DesMoines Register

Nascent nursing schools charge high costs while building credibility – St. Petersburg Times

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Bringing nurses back – Cincinnati Business Courier

After teacher layoffs, Medford hiring school nurses – The Boston Globe

Mount Union prepares students for careers as physican assistants – Canton Repository, Canton, OH

Unity Healthcare Moves to Terminate Anthem Contract – Inside Indian Business

Can Obama Sell Health Care Reform Without Getting Too Specific? – Newsweek

Survey: Healthcare reform less valuable than pizza – Christian Science Monitor

Poll: Obama health plan has slim majority support – CNN.com

Wal-Mart Supports Plan For Employer Health Care Mandate – RTT News

Health care reform – The Baltimore Sun

CBO Gives Us the Key to Health-Care Reform: The Employer Mandate – The Washington Post

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Union Favors – Opinion Piece from Investors Business Daily

Healthcare unions go head to head – Fierce Healthcare

Easing the Shortage in Adult Primary Care — Is It All about Money? – New England Journal of Medicine

Why healthcare reform is still alive, despite initial cost estimates – Christian Science Monitor

CDC Reinstates Recommendation for Haemophilus Vaccine Booster – MedPage Today

Obamacare won’t survive coming doctor shortage – The Washington Examiner

AMA meeting: Physician supervision of nurses sought in all practice agreements – American Medical News

Dingell: Armed for ‘fresh fight’ against health costs – The Detroit Free Press

Shortage of primary-care doctors a roadblock for health-care reform – Chicago Tribune

Where The Jobs Are: Pharmacist – Forbes

Doctor shortage proves painful to state – The Vermont Times Argus

Is Health Care Reform Worth $1.6 Trillion? – The New York Times

Unions demand public plan in healthcare bill – The Hill

Health care reform details begin to emerge from Washington – The Pittsburgh Business Times

Beware pitfalls on road to health-care reform – Opinion from the pages of the Indianapolis Star

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Shortage of Family Physicians Troubles States, ERs – Kaiser Health News, Washington, DC

Doctors take center stage in health reform – Market Watch

AMA: Policy Statement Supports Health Care Reform – Modern Medicine

Primary-Care Doctor Shortage May Undermine Reform Efforts – Washington Post

Alexander, Cooper warn of health-care plan costs – The Tennessean

Private insurers step into spotlight on health-care reform – The Chicago Tribune

Starting Health-Care Reform in the ER – TIME

Congressional Budget Office is threat to health care reform – Politico

EXCLUSIVE: The Finance Committee’s Health Reform Outline – The Washington Post

Will Obama’s healthcare reform be a cure or a panacea? – The LA Times

Various Players Offer Views On Reform – Kaiser Health News

Obama’s difficult sell on healthcare reform – The Christian Science Monitor

High Stakes for Obama in Health Care Fight – RealClearPolitics.com

Health debate: A little clarity, please – CNN.com

Bill Seeks To Eliminate Tax Breaks For Prescription Drug Advertising – Thompson.com

President Obama Signs Landmark Anti-Smoking Legislation Monday – AHN

Cape nurse practitioners take on primary care – Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA

America to see shortage of health care professionals – Richmond Register, Richmond, KY

Immigration: More Foreign Nurses Needed? – BusinessWeek

Lawmakers Address Nurse And Primary Care Physician Shortages – Kaiser Health News

Md. colleges given $11M to combat nursing shortage – Baltimore Business Journal

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Nurses With Depression Need Peer Support – Nurse.com

New Research Predicts Continuing Nurse Shortage – NurseZone.com

Obama to AMA: Health care overhaul can’t wait – USA Today

White House ‘Finds’ Another $313 Billion for Healthcare Reform – MedPage Today

Poll: Doctors trusted in healthcare reform – UPI.com

Health Care Reform in Danger – The Washington Post

Polls Show Declining Support For Obama Decisions – US News & World Report

SOME ABSORB COSTS TO RETAIN PATIENTS – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ASHP, ASHP Foundation Launch Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative – Medical News Today

Recession Prompts Calif. Nurses To Delay Retiring, Shortage Looms – California HealthLine

Recession alleviates shortage of nurses in Pittsburgh and across the nation – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

JMU Adds Doctorate of Nursing Program – WHSV, Harrisonburg, VA

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Bracing for health reform’s impact – FierceHealthFinance

Nursing Shortage Eases With Recession’s Help – The Wall street Journal

Fewer doctors threatens access to health care – The Examiner.com

Fixing Health Care Starts With the Doctors – The Washington Post

Health Care Reform: First, You’ll Feel a Sharp Pinch – The Wall Street Journal

Trims to Medicare, Medicaid Are Proposed to Help Fund Reform – The Washington Post

Obama eyes $313 billion more cuts for healthcare reform – Reuters

Health Care Reform: The View From the A.M.A. – Commentary from the NY Times

President Confirms $1 Trillion for Health-Care Reform – ABC News

Recession Temporarily Easing Nursing Shortage – Vanderbilt University News – Nashville, TN

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Federal bill would address primary care shortage – American Medical News

State bill seeks to give more independence to nurse practitioners – Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY

Medicine decries nurse doctorate exam being touted as equal to physician testing – American Medical News

Obama says time is right for healthcare reform – The Hill

Lower medical costs will boost economy – The Miami Herald

Should Health Insurance Be Mandatory? – The New York Times

Insurance Industry Supports Healthcare Reform–Say It Ain’t So! – US News & World Report

Media Skeptical Of Obama Stimulus Claims – US News & World Report

Romer says health care changes crucial – The San Francisco Chronicle

Mergers appeal to big, small hospitals – The Baltimore Sun

Gillibrand seeks to fix lack of nurses – Schenectady Gazette, Schenectady, NY

Faculty shortage hurting nursing – The Times of Trenton, Trenton, NJ

‘Nurse Jackie’ premiere: So, what’d you think? – Entertainment Weekly

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Is the overseas nursing market recession proof? – Nursing Times

Ground broken for KU pharmacy expansion – Kansas.com

New ads ramp up battle on health reform – The Washington Times

Plenty of questions, few answers on health care plans – Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA

Two Ways to Talk About Health Care Reform – The Atlantic

Health Reform: We Need Details, President Obama – US News & World Report

Once Considered Unthinkable, U.S. Sales Tax Gets Fresh Look – The Washington Post

Health reform is next big goal – Atlanta Journal Constitution

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