Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. Universal Precautions shall be observed by every health care worker for all patients receiving care. Universal Precautions is a system of infection control developed and based on the degree of exposure, not diagnosis. Such a system is an "interaction driven" system. This method is consistent with the Centers for Disease Control recommendations to consider all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of the diagnosis. Therefore, the need to use personal protective equipment must focus on health care worker's interaction with patient's blood and/or body fluids at the time of treatment or procedure, rather than on the diagnosis. Universal Precautions are utilized to prevent reasonably anticipated parenteral, skin, eye and mucous membrane exposure to blood and other potentially infectious body fluids that may result during the performance of a health care worker's duties. The Agency shall assure that health care workers implement and use Universal Precautions. The implementation of Universal Precautions in the care of all patients, regardless of diagnosis will protect health care workers who have occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious body fluids. Under certain circumstances where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluid types, all fluids shall be assumed to be potentially infectious. B. ENGINEERING AND WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS 1. Engineering and Work Practice Controls shall be used to eliminate or minimize health care worker exposure. Engineering Controls shall be examined and maintained, or replaced on a regular schedule to ensure their effectiveness. Handwashing - Hands will be thoroughly washed between all direct patient contact and after handling soiled or contaminated equipment. Antiseptic hand cleanser or towlettes shall be used when handwashing facilities in the home are inadequate. Hands shall be washed with soap and running water as soon as feasible. Hands and other skin surfaces will be washed immediately and thoroughly if contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious body fluids. Hands will be washed immediately after gloves are removed. Refer to Agency Infection Control policy and procedures on handwashing. 2. Handling of needles and other contaminated sharps. This Exposure Control Plan shall be reviewed and updated at least ANNUALLY and whenever necessary to reflect new or modified tasks and procedures which affect occupational exposure and to reflect new or revised employee positions with occupational exposure. The review and update of this plan shall also: (a) Reflect changes in technology that eliminate or reduce exposure to bloodborne pathogens; and (b) Document ANNUALLY consideration and implementation of appropriate commercially available and effective safer medical devices designed to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure. The HHA solicits input from non-managerial employees responsible for direct patient care who are potentially exposed to injuries from contaminated sharps in the identification, evaluation, and selection of effective engineering and work practice controls and shall document the solicitation in this Exposure Control Plan. Sharps will be discarded into an approved container as described in the Florida Administrative Code Rule 64E-16.* Sharps disposal containers shall be easily accessible to health care workers and located in the immediate area of use. Sharps containers will be replaced when materials placed into it reach the designated fill line, or if a fill line is not indicated, when 3/4 full. Sharps disposal containers must be in an upright position during use and secured from falling. Used needles and other sharps must not be sheared, bent, broken, recapped or resheathed by hand. Home Health Agency Nursing Care & Procedures K-188