-- CHG developed severity level updates - green, orange, yellow and red - to indicate not just the percentage of staff who are absent due to illness, but the extent to which business operations are affected by the decreased staffing levels. Every week the company's six offices report on their severity level, based on both community closures and the percentage of people out of the office due to illness and/or illness-related reasons such as daycare or school closures. Each severity level has a predetermined course of action, which will move into action as the levels change. -- The company paid-time off (PTO) policy was enhanced for the flu season (October 1 through April 1) to encourage employees to stay home while they or their immediate family members are sick, providing reassurance to employees who might consider working while ill to avoid using up vacation time. -- CHG is also employing the use of its Teladoc resource, a telephonic physician consulting tool, to provide a frontline defense for employees. Physicians can prescribe medicine for employees who have been exposed to H1N1 to help treat the virus until employees can see a primary care physician.

In addition to those highlights, CHG took a personal approach with its employees, distributing tissue, hand sanitizer and disinfectant to more than 1,100 employee desks.

"The purpose of the H1N1 campaign at CHG is to ensure that we have a plan in place, regardless of severity," said Ms. Thurman.

SOURCE: CHG Healthcare Services