Medical assisting Administrative and clinical procedures (5e) Chapter 6 Basic safety and infection control

In this chapter you will learn: Recognize the importance of professionalism in the medical assisting practice, explain the professional behaviors that should be exhibited by medical assistants, model strategies for success in medical assisting education and practice.

Basic Safety and

6.3 Describe basic safety precautions you

should take to reduce electrical hazards.

6.4 Illustrate the necessary steps in a

comprehensive fire safety plan.

Learning Outcomes (cont.)

6.5 Summarize proper methods for handling and

storing chemicals used in a medical office.

6.6 Explain the principles of good ergonomic

practice and physical safety in the medical office

6.7 Illustrate the cycle of infection and how to

break it.

6.8 Summarize the Bloodborne Pathogens

Standard and Universal Precautions as described

in the rules and regulations of the Occupational

6.9 Describe methods of infection control

including those preventing

healthcare-associated infections

6.10 Describe Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) requirements for reporting cases of infectious disease.

Learning Outcomes

• Accidents can occur in healthcare settings

• Remove or correct hazards

– Physical

– Chemical

– Biohazardous

• Removal or correction of hazards is

integral to risk management

Medical Office Safety Plan

• Minimize risk

• Establish a safety plan

• Education about potential dangers

facilitates the removal or correction of

these hazards

Medical Office Safety Plan (cont.)

• Comprehensive written safety plan

• Easily accessible

• Updated annually

• Know and follow the plan’s policies and

procedures

Apply Your Knowledge

Why is it important to have a safety plan in a

medical office and what should the plan cover?

ANSWER: It is important to have a safety plan to help

minimize risk and make everyone aware of potential

hazards A safety plan should contain:

•OSHA Hazard Communication

•Electrical and fire safety

•Emergency action plan

•Chemical safety

•Blood borne pathogen exposure

•Personal protective equipment

•Needlestick prevention

• Employee safety

• Specific standard vs General Duty

Clause

• Enforces guidelines established by the

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC)

OSHA Hazard Communication

• Labels

• MSDSs

Apply Your Knowledge

ANSWER: So employees can take measures to

protect themselves against harm.

Why is it important for hazardous materials be

correctly labeled?

Electrical Safety

• Know location of power shutoffs

• Avoid using extension cords

• Observe for frayed electrical wires

• Dry hands before working with electrical devices

• Do not position electrical devices near sources

of water

Apply Your Knowledge

ANSWER:

• Avoid using extension cords Tape extension cords to the

floor to avoid tripping

•Repair or replace equipment that has a broken or frayed

cord

• Dry your hands before working with electrical devices

• Do not position electrical devices near sinks, faucets, or

other sources of water

List three electrical safeguards to practice in the

healthcare setting?

Fire Safety

• Many potential hazards in a medical office

• Fire Prevention

– Hazards in the exam room

– Office laboratory ~ open flame

In Case of Fire (cont.)

• Using safety equipment

– Fire extinguisher – “PASS”

system – Fire blanket

Emergency Action Plans and Drills

– Current location – Nearest exit

Emergency Action Plans and Drills (cont.)

• Evacuation Procedure

– Ensure patients and staff are evacuated

– Check that everyone has left

– Take MSDS book

– Assembly area

– Emergency action plan drills

– Local emergency contacts

Apply Your Knowledge

Once at the assembly area after an evacuation

how would you account for employees and

patients?

ANSWER: Conduct a roll call of all employees You

can use the check-in roster to account for patients

• Proper handling and storage

• MSDS

• General precautions

• Eye wash station

Chemical Safety

Chemical Safety (cont.)

• Do not hold under

Apply Your Knowledge

What are the precautions you should take

when working with hazardous substances?

ANSWER:

Ergonomics and Physical Safety

• Ergonomics

• Maintain a healthy

and safe posture

• Do not over reach

• Lift properly

• Transferring a patient

– Lift with knees – Ask for assistance – Use transfer device

• Adjust seat

• Take frequent breaks from the computer

Physical Safety

• Walk, do not run, in the office

• Wipe up spills immediately

• Clear the floor of dropped objects

• Be sure there are no snags or tears in the carpet

• Destroy and dispose of medications that are

dropped on the floor

Physical Safety (cont.)

• Be careful when carrying objects

• Close cabinets, doors, and drawers

• Inspect furniture for rough edges

• Tape down cords and equipment cables

• Never use damaged equipment or supplies

Physical Safety (cont.)

• Safeguards for the

laboratory environment

– Wear protective gear

– Follow manufacturer’s

guidelines

Physical Safety (cont.)

• Special safety precautions

– Children

– Patients with physical disabilities

• Safe flooring

• Handrails

Apply Your Knowledge

ANSWER: The employer

Whose responsibility is it to ensure a safe work

• Are transmitted in the population

– Practice infection control precautions

Cycle of Infection

Cycle of Infection (cont.)

Click for Cycle of

Cycle of Infection (cont.)

• Means of transmission – how the

pathogen spreads to a host

– Airborne

– Bloodborne

– During pregnancy or birth

Cycle of Infection (cont.)

• How the pathogen spreads to a host

Cycle of Infection (cont.)

Cycle of Infection (cont.)

• Environmental factors

– Dense populations

– Animals and insects

– Economic and political

factors – Availability of transportation

– Urbanization and population

growth rates – Sexual behavior

Breaking the Cycle

• Asepsis

– Maintain strict housekeeping standards

– Adhere to government guidelines

– Educate patients

• Hygiene

• Health promotion

Apply Your Knowledge

What is your role as a medical assistant in

breaking the cycle of infection in the medical

office?

ANSWER: To apply these measures:

• Maintain strict housekeeping standards to reduce the

number of pathogens present

•Adhere to government guidelines to protect against

diseases caused by pathogens

• Educate patients in hygiene, health promotion, and

disease prevention

OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

• Employers must

– Develop an OSHA Exposure Control Plan

– Provide training to all employees

• Documentation

• PPE, Universal Precautions, engineering controls

• What to do if exposure occurs

– Provide the hepatitis B vaccine

Universal Precautions (cont.)

• Universal Precautions apply to all blood

and body fluids

• Standard Precautions

– Used in healthcare facilities for the care of all

patients – Prevents the transmission of disease

Universal Precautions (cont.)

Written Exposure Plan

• Determination of exposure

• Implementation of control methods

• Post-exposure evaluation and follow-up

• Communication and training

• Recordkeeping

• Evaluation of exposure incidents

– Counsel the employee

– Draw blood and prescribe treatment

– Written report

Other OSHA Requirements

• HBV vaccine

• Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act

– Engineered safety devices

– Employer recommendations

• Engineering controls

Other OSHA Requirements (cont.)

• Employee recommendations

– Avoid using needles

– Help choose devices

– Use devices provided

– Do not recap needles

– Dispose of sharps correctly

– Report injuries and hazards

– Participate in training

Apply Your Knowledge

ANSWER: There are three categories of risk:

Category 1: Expose a worker to blood, body fluids, or

tissues and require specific protective measures Category 2: Usually do not involve risk of exposure,

but precautions are required in certain situations

OSHA divides medical tasks by level of risk

What are these risk categories?

Infection Control Methods

Infection Control Methods (cont.)

• Keep office clean

Other Aseptic Precautions

• Avoid leaning against sinks, etc.

• Avoid touching your face and

mouth

• Use tissues for coughing or

sneezing; wash hands

afterward

• Avoid working with patients if

you have a cold; wear gloves

and mask

Personal Protective Equipment

Transmission from Healthcare Workers

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAI)

• Adhere to OSHA Standards

• High risk procedures

• HIV, HBV status of healthcare workers

Apply Your Knowledge

Describe the difference between medical and

surgical asepsis.

ANSWER: Medical asepsis is based on cleanliness and

reducing the number of microorganisms as much as

possible Surgical asepsis is maintaining a sterile

environment by eliminating all microorganisms.

• State or county health department

• Information is forwarded to the CDC

• National Notifiable Disease Surveillance

System

Reporting Guidelines (cont.)

• Reporting – correct form

Apply Your Knowledge

How is the information on reportable diseases

used by the CDC?

ANSWER: The CDC uses the information reported to

them to help control the spread of infection

In Summary

6.1 The medical office safety plan should include OSHA’s

Hazard Communication; electrical, fire, and chemical

safety; emergency action plans; bloodborne pathogen

exposure plans; PPE; and needlestick prevention plans.

6.2 The U.S Department of Labor created OSHA to protect

the employees’ safety in the workplace

Through the creation and enforcement of standards such

as the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, Hazard

Communication, and the Needlestick Safety and

Prevention Act, OSHA serves to protect healthcare

workers from hazards.

In Summary (cont.)

6.3 To reduce electrical hazards in the medical office, you

should avoid using extension cords, repair or replace

damaged cords, avoid overloading circuits, ensure that

all plugs are grounded, dry your hands before using

electrical devices, and keep electrical devices away

from sinks or other sources of water.

6.4 A comprehensive fire safety plan must include fire

prevention strategies, actions to take in the event of a

fire, building evacuation routes and plans, fire drills,

In Summary (cont.)

6.5 When using chemicals in the medical office, you

should always wear protective gear, carry the

container with both hands, work in a well-ventilated

area, never combine chemicals unless it is specifically

required in the test procedures, and properly clean up

spills immediately.

6.6 In order to protect yourself from work-related

musculoskeletal disorders at work, you must follow the

principles of good body mechanics

Your physical safety at work depends on

understanding and applying appropriate workplace

safeguards.

In Summary (cont.)

6.7 In order for an infection to occur, these five elements

must be in place: a reservoir host, a means of exit, a

means of transmission, a means of entrance, and a

susceptible host

The most effective means of breaking the cycle of

Infection is by using aseptic techniques

6.8 Laws set forth in the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens

Standard of 1991 dictate how you must handle

infectious or potentially infectious waste generated

In Summary (cont.)

6.9 The two basic methods of infection control are medical

asepsis and surgical asepsis.

OSHA recommends that healthcare workers who work

with high-risk patients know their HIV and HBV status,

participate in a HBV vaccination program, and avoid

direct patient contact if they have a skin condition

characterized by sores that secrete fluid

6.10 The CDC requires reporting of certain diseases to the

state or county department of health, who then reports

the information to the National Notifiable Disease

Surveillance System of the CDC.

End of Chapter 6

Soap and education are not as sudden

as a massacre, but they are more