A laser-sharp focus on infection control is necessary for ASCs to succeed in the increasingly value-based healthcare environment. Here, two ASC administrators discuss the infection control initiatives planned for 2016.
Question: What infection control initiatives are you planning to implement in the coming year?
Maggie Summerfelt, Administrator, Advanced Surgery Center, Omaha: We installed a UVC light source in our HVAC system to inhibit microbial growth. We also installed an AMSCO Washer Disinfector in our dirty room along with a new table top ultrasonic unit. In addition, this year our center was involved with the AHRQ Safety Program for Ambulatory Surgery.
Maggie Adams, Administrator, Riddle Surgical Center, Media, Pa.: Anyone can get sick from the flu. Mandatory vaccine programs are designed to prevent infection, hospitalization and death, and to reduce healthcare costs and worker absence. Although it is not a requirement, we have implemented flu vaccines as mandatory for the first time this year and we are going to continue that in our facility. We have initiated this with the full support of our infection control consultant.
Q: Why did you decide on these initiatives?
MS: The AMSCO Washer Disinfector will allow for more efficiency and ensure that our instruments are cleaned properly.
MA: Right now annual vaccination for all U.S. healthcare workers is a recommendation of the CDC, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Although vaccination of healthcare workers in all venues is monitored, the main focus for prevention is in acute and long-term care and in pediatric, elderly and immunocompromised populations. If vaccination becomes mandatory, the goal is for 90 percent compliance and ambulatory health centers may or may not be included.
Q: Have you started preparing for these initiatives? If yes, what steps have you taken?
MS: The AHRQ Safety Program for Ambulatory Surgery provided an excellent tool to evaluate the safety checklist. Through this tool, we continue to make changes to our list to ensure patient safety. One of the things we added was getting the patient actively involved in infection prevention through hand-washing and giving them an overall awareness of good hygiene. This involves more pre-op teaching and follow-up.
MA: We started documenting our staff flu vaccination rates last season. This year, all of our employees were notified of the mandatory vaccine initiative, which includes medical and religious exemptions, well in advance of the program implementation, or flu season. In addition, staff members were educated on other measures of respiratory protection during flu season, and patient education is ongoing.
Q: What outcomes are you hoping to see after implementation?
MS: Infection prevention is an ongoing process and we continually look to improve.
MA: Fewer sick days for our staff since everyone is now immunized. This is to ensure our staff can stay healthy from patients who come in sick or from their colleagues. My understanding is that you could be sick with the flu for a full day before you become symptomatic. So someone could be carrying the flu and spreading it around without even realizing it.
