Archive for: Uncategorized
Droplet precautions, car waiting rooms, and other H1N1 tips from the field
Many of you are probably already experiencing some increase of H1N1 cases in your community whether you work in a small outpatient facility or a large hospital.
In Omaha, NE, I have seen a number of issues arise with H1N1 including hospitalization of pediatric patients. Other hospitals are limiting visitation rights, especially children, in NICUs and ICUs, because there is such a high risk there. Many other facilities are setting up more respiratory etiquette stations and emphasizing infection control best practices among visitors.
Share your OSHA horror story
Do you have an OSHA “horror” story, maybe a cell phone accidentally dumped into a sharps container or a mercury-filled blood pressure unit pulled off the wall by a curious patient?
OSHA Healthcare advisor would like to hear about it.
Don’t worry, we’ll exercise discretion in identifying facilities and individuals in publishing the tale.
Click here to contact us through this blog site, give a brief description, and make sure to provide us with a way to connect with you.
Last chance to take the OSHA Healthcare Advisor survey; win a training video
I just wanted to call your attention to our visitor survey which we will be closing in a short time.
We are so pleased with the number of visitors to the OSHA Healthcare Advisor that we want to know you better.
Click here to take the short survey. If you answer all the questions, you will be eligible to win a FREE “Respirator Safety for Healthcare Workers” training video.
Ask the expert—Qualifications as bloodborne pathogens trainer
Q: When we do our initial and annual bloodborne pathogens training, does the presenter have to be one of our physicians?
A: No, a physician does not have to oversee bloodborne pathogens training.
Location, location, location: The keys for sharps disposal containers safety
Disposal is one of the prime times for needlesticks to occur, according to the CDC’s Workbook for Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Sharps Injury Prevention Program.
Failing to engage the device’s safety feature, putting down the device and then picking it up, walking out of the exam room with a sharp, or difficulty in reaching the container or seeing the opening, are just some of the safety missteps that can occur when disposing of contaminated sharps.
Consider safety compliance during construction
According to a statistic from an American Society for Healthcare Engineering survey, 70% of healthcare facilities undergo some type of construction project everyday. So, it was not surprising to have read last week about hospital renovations cited in a lawsuit where three pediatric cancer patients died.
Given that much construction, even during tough economic times, I’ m surprised there are not more lawsuits. As an aside, an upcoming HCPro audioconference, Infection Control During Construction and Renovation, offers advice and guidance for hospitals preparing for even the smallest renovations. Listen to the audio link below for a free preview.
