I work for a healthcare company. More specifically, I work in the corporate office of a healthcare company. An edict from on high recently went out to the employees of our hospitals. Each employee must either get a seasonal flu shot or wear a mask their full shift during the duration of flu season.
The intent of the policy is understandable. Our company is taking those extra steps to minimize the risk of passing along the flu to our patients and to our co-workers - a very noble goal in my opinion.
What wasn't made clear at the time was how folks at HQ were affected by this directive. Even though we aren't in a patient care setting full-time, many of us do visit hospitals for multiple-day stays as part of our jobs.
Today, any ambiguity was made clear. If a corporate employee is expected to visit a hospital between now and next spring, he/she too is expected to either get the shot or plan to wear a mask while on premises.
Right or wrong, I've chosen not to get the shot in the past. Honestly, I hadn't really planned to do so this year either. I'm not sure if I've been lucky or good, but I've never had the flu - not regular, bird, swine, chimney, cuckoo's nest, or any other variety.
I do, however, expect I'll be in several hospitals over the next 4 or 5 months. Also, I respect corporate directives and highly support the wonderful jobs our caregivers provide in our multiple facilities. So I'll wear the mask.
But my goodness, the choices - they're almost too numerous to mention! Fortunately, my next visit to one isn't likely to happen until the first week of December. So I have plenty of time to choose. Here's kind of a short list from which I hope to make my final decision.
Option #1 - The Darth
Pro: The most protective
Con: Results in most head sweat
Option #2 - The Lone Ranger
Pro: Hero of yesteryear
Con: Covers wrong part of face and just a bitttttt too gay for present year
Option #3 - The Phantom
Pro: Classiest
Con: May be mistakenly used as a bed pan
Option #4 - The Elephant Man
Pro: Readily available via use of eco-friendly shopping bags or hotel room pillow cases
Con: Would likely land me on Homeland Security watch list
Option #5 - Da Tut
Pro: Get my bling on
Con: One of a kind masks worn by a dead teenage king have a high reserve price on ebay
Option #6 - The Obamassiah
Pro: I'm a victim and pretty sure I'm entitled to this one
Con: Are you kidding me? Too numerous to mention thank you very much.
Option #7 - The Dark Knight
Pro #1: Also includes Robin mask for subordinate co-worker
Pro #2: I can climb outside walls of hospital buildings with a bat grappling hook if anyone confronts me about my mask
Con: Frequent guano breaks
Option #8 - The RoboCop
Pro: Stainless steel can be easily cleaned of germs
Con: Buff pec plate accessory costs a
lot extra
Option #9 - The Lechter
Pro: My yapping mouth stays shut much to delight of co-workers
Con: Likely out of season by December and makes it difficult to dine in hospital cafeteria
Any recommendations or alternate suggestions?
TMC
Finalist #2 - As I strolled West 44th Street in New York City last Saturday (future blog entry), the image of the Phantom's big mask jumped right out at me - along with the word "Phenomenal!". It was as if some sort of karma-like, coincidental decision was being offered to me from on-high. Benefits? A nice apparel upgrade from my well-worn suits to a tuxedo and some cool orchestral music to accompany my trips out of the office. A big glaring negative? I'd likely have to accept a sewer gondola over a rental car for my local transportation needs.
I still have a few weeks to go before the final decision is made. Any thoughts/comments/suggestions?
