Raising awareness of risk factors and measures people can take to protect themselves is the only way to reduce illness. Early recognition is critical to controlling the spread of infectious diseases. Consequently, healthcare personnel should review infection control policies and procedures with strict adherence to standard and transmission-based precautions.
Henry Schein shares the latest information on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and key resources for health professionals, including guidance on infection prevention and control.
Click here to visit our Coronavirus Update page for more details.
Many employers with more than 10 employees are required to keep a record of serious work-related injuries and illnesses. The Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (Form 300A) must be posted in workplaces from February through April, and the Final Rule to Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness data to OSHA that they are already required to keep under OSHA regulations. (The content of these establishment-specific submissions depends on the size and industry of the employer.)
OSHA’s reporting requirements highlight not just the need to report work-related injuries and illnesses, but also — particularly in a medical practice — the need to reduce and eliminate risk. Below you’ll find reference materials regarding several aspects of preventing infection and injury.
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This is the first SOP focusing on 8 key areas of OSHA Standard Precautions for infection control in the physician office / clinical setting.
Surface Disinfectants
All healthcare settings, regardless of the level of care provided, must be equipped to observe Standard Precautions, that is, the minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status of the patient, in any setting where healthcare is delivered.
In addition, they should:
Medical physician offices should be cleaned at the end of every day, unless a situation arises such as a visibly soiled surface that warrants immediate attention. General housekeeping routines involve cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, toys, and objects with a low-level disinfectant. Surfaces in the office such as in public areas, exam tables, counter tops, floors and toilets need to be cleaned immediately when they are visibly soiled.
Additional Information About Surface Disinfectants
Working in healthcare is hazardous! Everyone staying, visiting, or working in a healthcare facility is at risk of acquiring an infection and, as a healthcare worker, you may be exposed to many different sources of contamination. Infections may be transmitted by blood, body fluids, air, respiratory secretions or by direct contact with other infectious materials. Health care-associated infections (HAIs) have become more common as medical care and patient conditions have grown in complexity. You can protect yourself by first following the infection control guidelines in your workplace, second, using personal protective equipment (PPE), and finally, treating all blood and body fluid as though they are infectious.
For more information visit: http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/prevent/ppe.html
Additional Information About Barrier Protection & OSHA Safety
InControl - Instrument Reprocessing is intended to help you preserve the safety and well-being of your patients and staff while maintaining quality, care and profitability. Learn the importance of proper instrument reprocessing and the significant roll it has in an effective infection prevention and control (IPC) program, and its impact on reducing healthcare associated infections (HAIs).
Additional Information About Instrument Reprocessing
Compliant Sterility Assurance Solutions and Resources
SOP Instrument Reprocessing
SOP InControl Endoscope Reprocessing 2015
Sterility Assurance SOP
Our goal in publishing InControl is to support your efforts in working toward maintaining the total health of your patients and staff by providing you with the necessary tools to ensure your practice has what it needs to prevent the spread of disease. In this issue of InControl, we raise awareness of the importance of hand hygiene—the single most critical measure to avoid the transmission of disease in our communities
Additional Information About Hand Hygiene