Basic Safety and Infection Control

1. 6 Basic Safety and Infection Control

2. Learning Outcomes 6.1 Describe the components of a medical office safety plan. 6.2 Identify OSHA’s role in protecting healthcare workers. 6.3 Describe basic safety precautions you should take to reduce electrical hazards. 6.4 Illustrate the necessary steps in a comprehensive fire safety plan.

3. Learning Outcomes (cont.) 6.5 Summarize proper methods for handling and storing chemicals used in a medical office. 6.6 Explain the principles of good ergonomic practice and physical safety in the medical office. 6.7 Illustrate the cycle of infection and how to break it.

4. Learning Outcomes 6.8 Summarize the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and Universal Precautions as described in the rules and regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 6.9 Describe methods of infection control including those preventing healthcare- associated infections. 6.10 Describe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirements for reporting cases of infectious disease.

5. Introduction • Accidents can occur in healthcare settings • Remove or correct hazards • Physical • Chemical • Biohazardous • Removal or correction of hazards is integral to risk management

6. Medical Office Safety Plan • Minimize risk • Establish a safety plan • Education about potential dangers facilitates the removal or correction of these hazards

7. Medical Office Safety Plan (cont.) • Comprehensive written safety plan • Easily accessible • Updated annually • Know and follow the plan’s policies and procedures

8. Apply Your Knowledge Why is it important to have a safety plan in a medical office and what should the plan cover? • ANSWER:It is important to have a safety plan to help minimize risk and make everyone aware of potential hazards. A safety plan should contain: • OSHA Hazard Communication • Electrical and fire safety • Emergency action plan • Chemical safety • Blood borne pathogen exposure • Personal protective equipment • Needlestick prevention Right!

9. Occupational Safety and Health Administration • Employee safety • Specific standard vs. General Duty Clause • Enforces guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

10. OSHA Hazard Communication • Biohazard labels • Warning signs • Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) • Hazard labels

11. OSHA • Final rule • Standardize • Labeling • Safety information • Right to understand • Changes • Hazard classification • Labels • MSDSs

12. Apply Your Knowledge Why is it important for hazardous materials be correctly labeled? • ANSWER:So employees can take measures to protect themselves against harm. Good Answer!

13. Electrical Safety • Know location of power shutoffs • Avoid using extension cords • Observe for frayed electrical wires • Dry hands before working with electrical devices • Do not position electrical devices near sources of water

14. Apply Your Knowledge List three electrical safeguards to practice in the healthcare setting? • ANSWER: • Avoid using extension cords. Tape extension cords to the floor to avoid tripping. • Repair or replace equipment that has a broken or frayed cord. • Dry your hands before working with electrical devices. • Do not position electrical devices near sinks, faucets, or other sources of water. Right!

15. Fire Safety • Many potential hazards in a medical office • Fire Prevention • Hazards in the exam room • Office laboratory ~ open flame

16. In Case of Fire (cont.) • Using safety equipment • Fire extinguisher – “PASS” system • Fire blanket

17. Emergency Action Plans and Drills • Responsibility • Reporting fire • Overseeing evacuation • Building evacuation routes • Current location • Nearest exit

18. Emergency Action Plans and Drills (cont.) • Evacuation Procedure • Ensure patients and staff are evacuated • Check that everyone has left • Take MSDS book • Assembly area • Emergency action plan drills • Local emergency contacts

19. Apply Your Knowledge Once at the assembly area after an evacuation how would you account for employees and patients? ANSWER: Conduct a roll call of all employees. You can use the check-in roster to account for patients. Nice Job!

20. Chemical Safety • Proper handling and storage • MSDS • General precautions • Eye wash station

21. Chemical Safety (cont.) • Do not hold under nose • Use fume hood or personal ventilation device • Only combine chemicals as required • No mouth pipetting • Add acid to other substances • Clean up spills properly

22. Apply Your Knowledge What are the precautions you should take when working with hazardous substances? • ANSWER: • Store below eye level • Wear protective gear • Carry with both hands • Properly ventilated Great!

23. Ergonomics and Physical Safety • Ergonomics • Maintain a healthy and safe posture • Do not over reach • Lift properly

24. Ergonomics • Transferring a patient • Lift with knees • Ask for assistance • Use transfer device • Adjust seat • Take frequent breaks from the computer

25. Physical Safety • Walk, do not run, in the office. • Wipe up spills immediately • Clear the floor of dropped objects • Be sure there are no snags or tears in the carpet • Destroy and dispose of medications that are dropped on the floor

26. Physical Safety (cont.) • Be careful when carrying objects • Close cabinets, doors, and drawers • Inspect furniture for rough edges • Tape down cords and equipment cables • Never use damaged equipment or supplies

27. Physical Safety (cont.) • Safeguards for the laboratory environment • Wear protective gear • Follow manufacturer’s guidelines

28. Physical Safety (cont.) • Special safety precautions • Children • Patients with physical disabilities • Safe flooring • Handrails

29. Apply Your Knowledge Whose responsibility is it to ensure a safe work environment? • ANSWER:The employer Whose responsibility is it to follow safe work practices? • ANSWER:The employee SUPER!

30. Infection Control • Medical assistant • Help to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment • Understand how infections • Occur • Are transmitted in the population • Practice infection control precautions

31. Cycle of Infection Back

32. Cycle of Infection (cont.) • Reservoir Host – body capable of sustaining pathogen growth • Carrier • Endogenous infection • Exogenous infection • Means of Exit - how the pathogen leaves the host Click for Cycle of Infections

33. Cycle of Infection (cont.) • Means of transmission – how the pathogen spreads to a host • Airborne • Bloodborne • During pregnancy or birth Click for Cycle of Infection

34. Cycle of Infection (cont.) • How the pathogen spreads to a host • Foodborne • Vector-borne • Touching • Direct – contact with an infected persons mucous membranes • Indirect – fomites Click for Cycle of Infection

35. Cycle of Infection (cont.) • Means of Entrance • Any cavity lined with mucous membrane • Breaks in the skin • Susceptible Host • An individual with little or no immunity • Factors influencing susceptibility Click for Cycle of Infection

36. Environmental factors Dense populations Animals and insects Economic and political factors Availability of transportation Urbanization and population growth rates Sexual behavior Cycle of Infection (cont.)

37. Breaking the Cycle • Asepsis • Maintain strict housekeeping standards • Adhere to government guidelines • Educate patients • Hygiene • Health promotion • Disease prevention

38. Apply Your Knowledge What is your role as a medical assistant in breaking the cycle of infection in the medical office? • ANSWER:To apply these measures: • Maintain strict housekeeping standards to reduce the number of pathogens present • Adhere to government guidelines to protect against diseases caused by pathogens • Educate patients in hygiene, health promotion, and disease prevention.. Correct!

39. OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and Universal Precautions • Disposal of infectious or potentially infectious waste • Laws protect healthcare workers and patients • Training personnel • Record keeping • Housekeeping • Wearing protective gear

40. OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard • Employers must • Develop an OSHA Exposure Control Plan • Provide training to all employees • Documentation • PPE, Universal Precautions, engineering controls • What to do if exposure occurs • Provide the hepatitis B vaccine

41. Universal Precautions (cont.) • Universal Precautions apply to all blood and body fluids • Standard Precautions • Used in healthcare facilities for the care of all patients • Prevents the transmission of disease

42. Universal Precautions (cont.) • Risk categories • Tasks that require specific protective measures • Tasks that require precautions in certain situations • Tasks requiring no special protection

43. Written Exposure Plan • Determination of exposure • Implementation of control methods • Post-exposure evaluation and follow-up • Communication and training • Recordkeeping • Evaluation of exposure incidents

44. Exposure Incidents • Notify the physician or employer immediately • Refer the employee to a licensed healthcare provider • Counsel the employee • Draw blood and prescribe treatment • Written report

45. Other OSHA Requirements • HBV vaccine • Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act • Engineered safety devices • Employer recommendations • Engineering controls • Needlestick safety programs

46. Other OSHA Requirements (cont.) • Employee recommendations • Avoid using needles • Help choose devices • Use devices provided • Do not recap needles • Dispose of sharps correctly • Report injuries and hazards • Participate in training

47. Apply Your Knowledge OSHA divides medical tasks by level of risk. What are these risk categories? Correct • ANSWER: There are three categories of risk: • Category 1: Expose a worker to blood, body fluids, or tissues and require specific protective measures • Category 2: Usually do not involve risk of exposure, but precautions are required in certain situations • Category 3: No risk of exposure, so no special protection is required

48. Infection Control Methods • Knowledge of • Medical asepsis • Based on cleanliness • As few microorganisms as possible • Surgical asepsis • Sterile environment • No microorganisms

49. Keep office clean Prevent cross-contamination Follow guidelines Use protective gear Infection Control Methods (cont.)

50. Hand Hygiene • Handwashing • Alcohol-based hand disinfectants(AHD) • Fingernail length • Nail polish and artificial nails