Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. INFLUX OF INFECTIOUS PATIENTS Purpose: To provide a response plan for an event which involves an influx of infectious patients, as part of the emergency management activities. Identification of Patients Features that should alert Agency personnel to the possibility of a infection outbreak, or bioterrorism- related outbreak include: A rapidly increasing disease incidence (e.g., within hours or days) in a normally healthy population. An epidemic curve that rises and falls during a short period of time. An unusual increase in the number of people seeking care, especially with fever, respiratory, or gastrointestinal complaints. An endemic disease rapidly emerging at an uncharacteristic time, or in an unusual pattern. Lower attack rates among people who had been indoors, especially in areas with filtered air or closed ventilation systems, compared with people who had been outdoors. Clusters of patients arriving from a single locale. Large numbers of rapidly fatal cases. Any patient presenting with a disease that is relatively uncommon and has bioterrorism potential (e.g., pulmonary anthrax, tularemia, or plague) Procedure: 1. Planning for influx of patients with potential emergence of epidemics or bioterrorist attacks is monitored by: a. Rapid response notification data received from the CDC and County DOH. b. Review of visits including symptoms and diagnosis. c. Review of microbiology results if available. 2. Information will be disseminated to Administrators, Director of Nursing, Clinical Manager, Infection Control committee members directly or by phone. Notification to not available directors, managers by email and/or cell phones. 3. Infection Control Chairman (Director of Nursing, Clinical Manager) will immediately report all suspected or confirmed cases of outbreak or bio-terrorism to the County Department of Health. a. Important Phone number: 1. Agency number and after hours 305-644-2100 b. Incident Coordinator (DON, Clinical Manager) will convene a team that will include the Infection Control Committee members with the county authority to implement appropriate control measures. The Infection Control office will coordinate Agency initiatives with the local health departments as appropriate (Local Hospitals, Clinics and Health Department). 4. In the event of an influx of potentially infectious patients, the following strategies are utilized: a. In the case of influx of infectious patients the agency will admit patients according to staff capacity/availability, following droplet precautions. All others will be referred back to their primary care physicians. b. Patient Management/Responsibilities: i. On call nurse must be ready to receive orders. Protocols are implemented to advise first responders and other facilities (such Hospitals, DOH, etc) of these issues via telephone, fax, e-mails or other appropriate media. Field staff will implement and isolate by utilizing one area of the patient’s house those patients, if ordered by their physician or DOH. ii. Staff assigned to work with that patients, will remain following appropriate isolation measures if ordered. iii. Not necessary services such as personal care, physical therapy, or other not compromised services may be cancelled. Home Health Agency Nursing Care & Procedures K-195