At the 10th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference in Chicago on June 16, Dotty J. Bollinger, RN, JD, COO, and Lisa Melamed, JD, staff attorney at Laser Spine Institute, discussed common infection control pitfalls for ASCs and how to prevent them.
Common pitfalls
1. Lack of adherence to basic standard precautions in areas such as hand hygiene; wearing gowns, gloves and masks; handling and disposal of infection materials and respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.
2. No written infection prevention guidelines.
3. No identified infection control expert available at the facility.
4. Lack of orientation, education and competencies for staff.
Preventing pitfalls
1. Provide orientation and continual reeducation of all staff in basic infection prevention procedures. ASCs should also "empower nurses to have the tools and authority to make sure staff are doing what they're supposed to do," Ms. Bollinger said.
2. Ensure all supplies necessary for basic infection prevention are available and easily accessed.
3. Employ at least one individual with training in infection prevention that is made regularly available at the facility.
4. Develop an infection control program and occupational health program.
5. Document staff competencies and compliance on a continual basis.
6. Regularly conduct focused infection prevention practice surveys or audits.
7. Track and report patient and employee infections.
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Common pitfalls
1. Lack of adherence to basic standard precautions in areas such as hand hygiene; wearing gowns, gloves and masks; handling and disposal of infection materials and respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.
2. No written infection prevention guidelines.
3. No identified infection control expert available at the facility.
4. Lack of orientation, education and competencies for staff.
Preventing pitfalls
1. Provide orientation and continual reeducation of all staff in basic infection prevention procedures. ASCs should also "empower nurses to have the tools and authority to make sure staff are doing what they're supposed to do," Ms. Bollinger said.
2. Ensure all supplies necessary for basic infection prevention are available and easily accessed.
3. Employ at least one individual with training in infection prevention that is made regularly available at the facility.
4. Develop an infection control program and occupational health program.
5. Document staff competencies and compliance on a continual basis.
6. Regularly conduct focused infection prevention practice surveys or audits.
7. Track and report patient and employee infections.
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