Hospital Employee Health – June 1, 2005
June 1, 2005
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Beyond fit-testing: Why can’t health care workers just use surgical masks?
If terrorists spread pneumonic plague in your community, will surgical masks be sufficient to protect health care workers? That question has renewed a controversy over respiratory protection, this time whether surgical masks are appropriate for some diseases while fit-tested N95 filtering facepiece respirators are required for others. -
Surgical Mask or Respirator?
Here are excerpts of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) disease-specific guidance on whether health care workers should use surgical masks or respirators. -
No more excuses: Every accident is preventable
Its never just an accident when someone gets hurt. Even an unusual accident can shed light on weaknesses in your processes and procedures, says Linda Haney, RN, MPH, COHN-S, CSP, clinical director of Diligent Services, a consulting division of Arjo Inc., the health care ergonomics firm based in Roselle, IL. If you ask the right questions after an accident or a near miss, you may be able to prevent future incidents, she says. -
After-Action Review: What you need to ask
Here are some questions identified by the Veterans Health Administration for conducting an After-Action Review. The program emphasizes the need to engage in open discussion based on objective facts without blaming individuals. -
Hospital noise leads to higher work stress
With alarms sounding, helicopters landing, dishes clashing in a washer, compressors whirring, hospitals are noisy places. -
JCAHO Update for Infection Control: ‘Joint Commission effect’: Awareness of looming JCAHO survey increases hand hygiene compliance
An impending visit by surveyors from the Joint Commission improved hand hygiene compliance rates, which remained higher than baseline even after the inspection, an epidemiologist reports. -
JCAHO Update for Infection Control: Homeland security warns of fake JCAHO surveyors
Federal counterterrorism officials are warning about a disturbing pattern of incidents in which people tried to gain access to hospitals by posing as surveyors from the Joint Commission. -
JCAHO Update for Infection Control: JCAHO launches new patient safety center
The Joint Commission has launched a new web-based patient safety initiative that continues its strong emphasis on infection control. JCAHOs International Center for Patient Safety web site (www.jcipatientsafety.org) is designed to serve as a central repository of resources and information related to all aspects of patient safety. Also, its aimed at both patients and health care workers. -
JCAHO Update for Infection Control: Survey says - Hand hygiene compliance biggest woe
A new patient safety center founded by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations will include an emphasis on infection control. Not surprisingly, improving hand hygiene was the most frequently cited problem area cited by ICPs in a poll posted shortly after the web site debuted. -
JCAHO Update for Infection Control: JCAHO praises disclosure of health care quality data
The Joint Commission is applauding the public release of information on hospital clinical performance by the Hospital Quality Alliance. The measures used to produce this information meet the highest contemporary standards for reliability and validity. -
OSHA outlines hearing standard
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently developed an e-tool to help employers assess noise and create hearing conservation programs. -
New sharps devices are technically better
If you have doctors or nurses who still complain about awkward sharps safety devices, take a look at new technologies. Theres good news: Manufacturers have responded to concerns by producing safety devices that are more user-friendly, more effective, and integrate patient safety. -
Surgical preps: New fire worries affect OR
Just as the Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) granted hospitals new latitude to place alcohol-based hand rub containers in hallways, new fire concerns emerged that could restrict the use of alcohol-based surgical preparations in the operating room.