Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. PREVENTION OF INFECTION RELATED TO RESPIRATORY TRACT CARE Poliza: Evaluate each of the elements and design particular strategies to prevent and control Respiratory Tract Infection, influenza for our patients. PREVENTION 1. INSERVICE TRAINING program for Agency staff on respiratory secretion precaution, handwashing techniques, and review the elements of the influenza control plan. Also is included case definition for influenza-like illness: Fever (>100°F oral or equivalent), AND at least two of the following: • chills • headache or eye pain • muscle ache • malaise or loss of appetite • sore throat • dry cough • change in mental status. 2. Explain the importance of an INFLUENZA VACCINE PROGRAM for patients, families and field staff that includes education on the importance and sources of influenza vaccination. The optimal time for influenza vaccination for persons at high risk for influenza-related medical complications is between October to mid-November. 3. Our staff will ALERT FOR THE FIRST SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS of the illness during the influenza season. CONTROL 1. Increase attention to respiratory and secretion precautions and always practice good handwashing. 2. We will report outbreaks of influenza-like illness to our local public health agency or the Department of Health 3. Screen staff will be performed for symptoms and we will NOT permit ill staff to work. 4. Standard Precautions are basic infection control precautions in health care and should be applied routinely in all health-care settings when providing care for all patients. If these basic precautions are not in place, additional specific precautions will not be effective. The main elements of Standard Precautions include hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to avoid direct contact with patient's blood, body fluids, secretions and non-intact skin, prevention of needle stick/sharp injury and cleaning and disinfection of the environment and equipment. 5. When caring for patients with infectious acute respiratory diseases, Standard and Droplet Precautions should be practiced whenever possible. 6. Additional protective measures may be necessary when providing care for patients infected with some specific pathogens. If the patient has indications suggestive of an ARD caused by a novel pathogen with epidemic/pandemic potential and the route of transmission has not been established, Airborne and Contact Precautions should be added to Standard Precautions. 7. The key strategies for reducing the risk of pathogen exposure and transmission associated with health care include administrative controls, engineering and environmental controls, and use of PPE. 8. Administrative (e.g. provision of adequate staff and supplies, education of health workers, patients and family), engineering and environmental controls are fundamental components in the construction of an infection control structure to enable the safest possible health care. Adequate environmental ventilation is a key engineering control for respiratory infections and should be carefully considered. 9. The use of PPE is defined by policies and procedures specifically addressing infection control issues (e.g. isolation precautions). Its effectiveness is dependent on adequate and regular supplies, adequate staff training, proper hand hygiene, and in particular, appropriate human behaviour. 10. Source control measures should be implemented for all persons with respiratory symptoms through the promotion of respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette. Home Health Agency Nursing Care & Procedures K-182