Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. 231 REPORTING PATIENT INFECTIONS PURPOSE: To provide a consistent process of surveillance of infections occurring in the home care population. POLICY: • MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. is committed to implementing precautionary measures to protect staff and patients from infection transmission. • All patients with a suspected infection should have a patient infection report completed within 24 hours of discovery. DEFINITIONS • New Infection: • Any infection that occurs that was not documented as being present at the time of the patient’s admission for care and/or services. • Suspected Infection: • A situation in which clinical observations strongly suggest the presence of an infection, but empirical data to support the suspicion is not possible or available at the time of the report. PROCEDURE: • The Infection Identification Patient Report is completed when: • A new actual or suspected infection is clinically observed by home care personnel. • A culture is ordered and performed. • A new antibiotic is prescribed. • A patient is admitted to a hospital due to an actual or suspected infection. • A patient dies following an actual or suspected infection. • A reportable, communicable infection is identified. • Patient has two (2) or more consecutive temperatures greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit. • The Clinical Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the Infection Identification Report Form is completed and submitted to the Risk Manager.