Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT IMMUNE-COMPROMISED PATIENTS POLICY 1. In addition to Standard Precautions, the use of the more precautions measures may be considered for a neutropenic patient (<500 neutrophils/mm 3) receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive drugs for transplant recipients of bone marrow, stem cell or solid organ. 2. All field staff with ongoing or recent infections are restricted from providing care/services to this patients. PURPOSE To protect the immune compromised patient from acquiring an organism that could potentially become a life threatening pathogen. PROCEDURE 1. Patient Placement For Immune Compromised Patient: % Do not Enter patient’s room if you have any signs of infection (even a cough or cold) % Hand Cleansing % Masks necessary for patients when out of room 2. Hand Hygiene • Anyone entering the patient’s room will perform hand hygiene with either soap and water or alcohol hand sanitizer. • Gloves required, only as per Standard Precautions, when hands come in contact with blood or body fluids. 3. Gown • Not required except as per Standard Precautions when soiling of uniform with blood or body fluids is anticipated. • Gowns are single use only. Remove immediately if wet. 4. Masks • For the immune compromised patient when out of his room. 5. Patient Care Equipment • Dedicate noncritical patient-care equipment to a single patient (e.g., stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, tourniquet, vacutainer, laundry hamper stand, walker and commode). • If sharing of equipment is unavoidable strict equipment disinfection prior to use by an immune compromised patient must occur. 6. Environmental Cleaning • Interim cleaning of rooms is recommended to patient’s family, or ALF staff if applicable. • Avoid clutter of care items/personal belongings which make it difficult to clean surfaces efficiently. • No fresh or dried flowers or plants allowed in the patient’s room. 7. Visitor Restrictions: prevent family, friends, or ALF staff to enter patient’s room, if it not necessary. • Provide Visitor Information for Immune Compromised Patient handout to all visitors and enforce restrictions. • Instruct visitors regarding hand hygiene before and after patient contact. • Home visitors under the age of 10 are permitted only if immunization is current. • Recommend no more than 2 visitors at a time • Home visitors with fever, influenza like illness, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, pink eye, cold sores or respiratory infection (cough, runny nose, fever, chills), should be restricted from visiting the patient. Examples: Untreated Group A Strep pharyngitis, Hepatitis A. • Home visitors who were in contact with shingles, chicken pox, measles, rubella (German measles), mumps, or whooping cough in the past 4 weeks and are not immune to the disease should be restricted from visiting. • Home visitors who have received varicella vaccine in the past 6 weeks and have a rash which is related to the vaccination should be restricted from visiting. 8. Patient and family teaching • Patients should understand the nature of their immune compromised position and the reason precautions are being used. Home Health Agency Nursing Care & Procedures K-181