Berkley Calls For Ceasefire In War Of Words Over Las Vegas Business Gatherings   Reminds President Obama Tourism is Good for Economy      Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today (February 11, 2009) called for a ceasefire in the war of words over travel to Las Vegas and other destinations by businesses.  The Congresswoman’s remarks are in response to recent comments from President Obama, Members of Congress and others who have targeted the choice of Las Vegas as a destination for business gatherings.  “Certainly we need to curb excessive expenses by corporations that receive federal funds.  Unfortunately, many people have taken these comments as a prohibition on travel to the Las Vegas area.  “I would hope that as we go forward, President Obama and my colleagues in Congress would remember that tourism is one of the largest industries in the United States.  Millions of residents in cities like Las Vegas depend on business gatherings and conventions for their livelihoods.       “When tourists come to town, businesses use the dollars they spend to buy goods and services produced in all 50 states and to pay workers.  In turn, these men and women and their families use their earnings to buy more goods and services from American businesses and our global partners.  That spending keeps people working and creates more jobs at a time of record unemployment.   “There is no question that as a result of the criticism leveled against business travel to Las Vegas by the President and others, the community I represent has lost millions of dollars in revenue, which threatens even more job cuts at a time when we cannot afford the loss of a single visitor.   “Nevada leads the nation in foreclosures, unemployment in our State has doubled over the past year to more than 9 percent and families are finding it harder just to stay afloat.  “Please, let’s stop the attacks, let’s call a ceasefire and let’s recognize the true cost of these words in real dollars lost as a result of canceled meetings and other functions that will not be held in Las Vegas.        “Trade shows, conventions and corporate gatherings -- and the business travelers they attract -- fill airline seats, hotel rooms and restaurants and bring customers to local merchants and service providers.  These tourism jobs provide a living for millions of hard working men and women who make the tourism industry one of America’s largest economic sectors.     “Whether it's a school trip to see the White House in Washington or a convention trip to Las Vegas, tourism is economic stimulus every single day for local communities that depend on visitors.   “Mr. President, I support your efforts to curb corporate excesses in your recovery plan, but from the neon lights of Las Vegas to the Chicago skyline, from the white sands of Hawaii to the Kansas heartland, tourism means jobs.  We need your support and we need the business more than ever before.” Rising Unemployment Figures Again Underscore Need for Broad Jobs Creation Package   Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today pointed to nationwide unemployment figures for January as the newest sign that Congress must act now to pass a broad job creation package.  The legislation also includes important assistance for unemployed Nevadans.  New Department of Labor statistics show that 600,000 jobs were lost in January, the largest one-month decline since 1974.  “Unemployment is up nationwide and that means more Americans in Las Vegas and across the U.S. are out of work and in need of assistance.  These latest figures underscore the urgency for Congress to pass a broad jobs creation package that will put people back to work.  Our legislation also includes important resources that will extend unemployment benefits for out of work Nevadans as they continue to search for new jobs,” said Berkley.  “And this extension of benefits for the unemployed comes at no cost to Nevada or any other State.”     As a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, Berkley helped to craft portions of the stimulus package that extend unemployment benefits for job seekers in Las Vegas and across the nation.  H.R. 1, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is now being debated in the Senate, following passage in the House.     The bill extends unemployment insurance benefits through the end of 2009 and increases the benefit by $25 per week.  The extension would provide critical assistance to approximately 3 million people through 2009, while the benefit increase will help nearly 20 million unemployed workers.  Also included is an extension designed to help families maintain their health coverage even when a job is lost. Summary of Unemployment Insurance Provisions ·        Increases unemployment checks by $25 a week for jobless workers. ·        Continues Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program: The current federally funded extended unemployment benefits program is scheduled to begin to phase out at the end of March 2009.  The package extends the program through December 31, 2009. ·        Provides 65% subsidy for COBRA premiums for up to 12 months for workers who have been involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. ·        Increases funding to states that provide Medicaid coverage to unemployed and uninsured individuals who may not be eligible for COBRA and extends COBRA coverage for older and tenured workers, until they are eligible for Medicare coverage or secure alternate coverage.

 

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Less than one year after health officials revealed what became the largest outbreak investigation of its kind in U.S. healthcare history, a broad-based group of national healthcare leaders has launched a campaign to prevent future tragedies.

Today, the Safe Injection Practices Coalition — comprised of patient advocacy organizations, foundations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including Dr. Richard Besser, Acting Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Acting Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, provider associations and societies and industry partners — joined Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to launch the One & Only Campaign, an education and awareness initiative aimed at both healthcare providers and patients.

 “Americans trust their doctors and other healthcare providers to keep them safe when they receive medical services like cancer screenings.  But as we learned from tragic events in southern Nevada last year, patients must be taught how to ensure they are protected.  Exposure incidents like the one in Las Vegas happened as result of inexcusable lapses in basic patient safety and because of unsafe cost-cutting efforts,” said Berkley.  “A foolproof system involving both patients and providers is needed to prevent these types of exposures from being repeated.  The ‘One & Only’ campaign will help to empower patients to ask the right questions of their doctors.  And it teaches healthcare providers to remember the importance to patient safety of ‘one needle, one syringe, and only one time for every single injection’.  I commend the leadership of those taking part in this new campaign and those who have developed this important response to dangerous medical practices uncovered in Las Vegas and other communities nationwide,” Berkley said.  

The One & Only Campaign will attack the root cause of many recent outbreaks — the reuse of syringes — by educating healthcare providers and patients about the fundamental evidence-based injection safety practices that ensure patient safety.  

The campaign's launch follows a recent article, published in the January 6, 2009 edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine, that revealed the occurrence of 33 outbreaks of viral hepatitis in non-hospital healthcare settings over the last decade.  All of these outbreaks involved failure on the part of healthcare providers to adhere to fundamental infection control practices, most notably by reusing syringes.

"Sadly, the continued occurrence of life-threatening outbreaks of infectious diseases caused by healthcare providers' misuse of needles, syringes and medication vials shows no signs of abating. Even after last year's horrific tragedy in Las Vegas made national headlines, similar incidents continue to occur," said Evelyn V. McKnight, President/Co-founder of HONOReform and campaign co-chairman who was a victim of a similar tragedy involving an outpatient cancer center in Nebraska.

In February 2008, state and federal health officials announced that 40,000 patients – a number that has climbed to over 50,000 – were possibly exposed to deadly bloodborne diseases at an endoscopy center in Las Vegas because healthcare providers reused syringes.

 “Almost a year ago, thousands of Nevadans were exposed to Hepatitis C and HIV as a result of unsafe practices by clinics that were reusing single-use vials and syringes.  It should be common sense that these materials be used only once but unfortunately that doesn’t always happen, especially in non-hospital settings,” said Nevada Senator Harry Reid.  “I appreciate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Safe Injection Practices Coalition for launching the ‘One & Only’ campaign to educate everyone involved on this issue. The simple act of raising awareness about safe injection practices will help to protect Nevadans against preventable exposures to deadly diseases.”

"The public deserves to be reassured they will be safe when seeking healthcare whether in a hospital, outpatient clinic or private physician's office.  This campaign is much needed, especially in my home state of Nevada, and will help restore the public trust in our healthcare system," said Dr. Lawrence Sands, chief health officer of the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), a member of the campaign.

Recognizing the magnitude of the tragedy in Las Vegas, the One & Only Campaign will be piloted in Nevada. The campaign includes a set of training materials designed to remind doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers that syringes must be used one time only.  It will also produce a set of patient-focused materials designed to empower patients, helping erect another layer of protection.

"This One & Only Campaign has been designed by providers and patients to have a lasting impact.  While providers ultimately must be held responsible for following all safety standards, we want patients to feel empowered and able to speak up if they have a concern," said Charlie Stokes, CEO/President of the CDC Foundation and campaign co-chairman.

In addition to the CDC Foundation, HONOReform and SNHD, the campaign is funded by multiple partners including the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), Ambulatory Surgery Foundation, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc (APIC), BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), Nebraska Medical Association (NMA) and Nevada State Medical Association (NSMA).

Once launched in Nevada, the Safe Injection Practices Coalition will conduct an evaluation to measure its effectiveness and make necessary adjustments prior to introducing it in other states – likely those impacted by similar recent outbreaks – and ultimately nationwide.

"Our healthcare system must institute a zero tolerance policy when it comes to unsafe injection practices so such outbreaks are seen as 'never events'. These tragedies are 100 percent preventable, and I am hopeful this campaign will save lives by ensuring all healthcare providers follow fundamental safe injection practices," McKnight said.

The goal of the One & Only Campaign is to promote safe injection practices across healthcare settings to protect all patients.  For more information, please visit: www.oneandonlycampaign.org.