From the AIA's new Infection Control Risk Assessment to the JCAHO's emphasis on infection control, your facility's infection control initiatives have never been under more scrutiny. Briefings on Infection Control is a 12-page monthly resource that was created specifically to help you save time complying with the new infection control regulations and combating the spread of infectious diseases in your hospital. Not only will you know about the latest changes and updates, but you'll also receive the step-by-step strategies and tools to comply!
October 2008 (Volume 6, Issue 10)
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Can training IC liaisons really save your sanity? Many ICPs are juggling a host of regulatory requirements these days and consequently find themselves spread too thin.
To help them get the job done and to extend their reach, many ICPs are enlisting the help of IC liaisons, who, depending on the individual program, do everything from spreading information about IC to helping ICPs with data collection, surveying, and educating staff members. Stay vigilant: Pandemic influenza is more likely than ever Three years ago, pandemic influenza was a hot topic. Many facilities were focused on preparing for a potential pandemic. However, interest now appears to be waning, despite the fact that top scientists believe that the risk of pandemic influenza is on the rise. Document, monitor, and limit flash sterilization to stay out of hot water with The Joint Commission Flash sterilization should be used only in unplanned or emergency situations, as stipulated by The Joint Commission. But all too often, facilities are using these devices routinely to make up for an inadequate amount of equipment or staff members, putting themselves at risk of a requirement for improvement (RFI) from The Joint Commission and, more importantly, putting patients at risk of a potential infection.
Flash sterilization is a focus of Joint Commission standard IC.4.10, says Peggy Luebbert, MS, MT (ASCP), CIC, CHSP, owner and consultant at Healthcare Interventions, Inc., in Omaha, NE. The IC standards are found in the “Infection Prevention and Control” chapter of the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (CAMH). In 2009, the Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) will renumber the IC standards (see “2009 IC standards: New numbers, familiar concepts” on p. 5) and address sterilization requirements under standard IC.02.02.01.
In the current CAMH, IC standards IC.2.10, IC.3.10, and IC.5.10, as well as leadership standards LD.2.20 and EP.2.10, are also relevant to sterilization. Audits and training critical to food safety With MDROs and other dangerous hospital-associated infections to contend with, foodborne illnesses are not always on ICP’s radar screens.
“But [this issue] needs to be, because foodborne illnesses can kill a patient,” says Connie DeLeo, BS, MT (ASCP), CIC, IC coordinator at Baton Rouge (LA) General Hospital. New regulations affect dialysis facilities If your hospital owns a dialysis clinic, you’ll need to ensure that it’s compliant with CDC guidelines. If staff members aren’t reporting clusters of infections and other adverse events to the appropriate local and state public health authorities, the facility might be ineligible for federal reimbursement, according to new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule Conditions for Coverage for End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Facilities.
