Arm your staff with good infection control habits
Accreditation Connection, October 29, 2004
Proper infection control (IC) practices by staff will solidify a healthful environment for coworkers and patients. Although it is a personal preference, one possibility is to manage employees' laundered attire.
For example, some nurses will take their outer-cover jackets home to wash them, but a professional launderer may be a better practice, because they use decontaminates that are not found in home washing detergents. In addition to jackets not receiving a proper cleaning, staff might also bring home unknown contaminates.
If you decide to use a professional cleaner, consider the following:
* Explain the facility's specific IC needs to the launderer. For example, demonstrate to staff and the laundry company how to separate materials (e.g., everyday linens) from special-needs items (e.g., scrubs) using impervious bags
* Review the contract annually to keep the launderer up-to-date on your new standards or rules
* Appoint a representative to serve as a liaison with the laundry service to foster communication
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