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By Greg Garner
There are many horror stories about the exposure to blood borne pathogens that circulate throughout every hospital and healthcare facility. These stories are usually true although some may be slightly blown out of proportion. Still, the statistics do not lie. The number of accidental sticks is high among healthcare providers despite the horror stories, training and available knowledge, and safety equipment. Many do not realize or take seriously the high risk and potential for contracting a blood borne pathogen. The results of such an accident can be devastating if left unreported and untreated.
Historic Efforts
Hospitals and government have gone to great lengths to limit exposure to potentially dangerous blood borne pathogens. This unprecedented effort to provide healthcare workers with a safe working environment without limiting the quality of healthcare is historic to say the least. The patients depend on hospital staff to help them and patient health is the number one priority of nurses and other hospital staff, but where do you draw the line between the quality of patient care and the safety of the caregiver? The best way to safeguard hospital personnel from accidental exposure to blood borne pathogens is the proper training for such.
What Should Be Taught
No one-safety protocol by itself is enough to keep hospital staff safe. It is a combination of all training and safety techniques that works to protect you from an accidental exposure to blood borne pathogens. The ability to recognize where the dangers lie and how to avoid an accident is the key to keeping the number of incidents down and staying safe. The hospital staff should be trained in the following important areas.
— How to recognize a potentially high risk situation
— How to limit the danger of exposure to blood borne pathogens
— Following-to the letter-all safety protocols including hand washing and barrier protection
— How to handle disposal of waste-safely,
— Sharps techniques and protection
Who Should Be Taught
These important lessons for safety involving the risk of accidental exposure to blood borne pathogens should be taught to all hospital personnel, including:
— All nursing staff
— Support staff, especially direct contact support staff
— Social Services
— Admissions
— Housekeeping
— Dietary
— Maintenance personnel
— Techicians
— Any new staff member
— Volunteers
— Everyone
Remember The Families
In addition, there should be pamphlets available in all rooms for the patients and visitors to view for educational purposes. While this is not a requirement, it is a good idea. The more anyone knows about the potential for blood borne pathogen risk and safety, the better. It just makes good sense not only from a medical point of view but also from a moral and legal standpoint as well.
Extreme Measures Are Called For
Anything that a health care facility can do to help limit exposure to blood borne pathogens will help the training to stay foremost in the minds of those that could benefit the most. Healthcare facilities and hospitals that have a safety department staffed with this in mind have the fewest number of incidents of accidental exposure to blood borne pathogens. It just makes good sense to take every precaution available to help keep employees and patients safe.
About the Author: For more information please visit our
Bloodborne Pathogen Training
website.
Source:
isnare.com
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