Unit 1 Lesson 4: Better Safe Than Sorry Flashcards
OSHA is the agency concerned with worker
OSHA is the agency concerned with worker safety, and they have many initiatives to improve workplace safety
What is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the federal agency charged with protecting the health, safety, and security of the United States from all types of health threats.
What is the CDC is concerned with
The CDC is concerned with improving public health and conducts scientific and public policy activities to support this mission. Tracking disease, whether chronic or acute, preventable or curable, is a key mission for the CDC.
When in a healthcare environment, the CDC, along with other health organizations, has recommended that standard precautions should be used at all times when caring for patients. What are Standard precautions
standard precautions—a set of infection control procedures that must be followed to prevent transmission of disease
Why should standard precautions be used
The reason standard precautions should be used, even when no known infection is present, is that you can’t see infection, and sometimes infectious agents can be present before they are easily detected.
Standard precautions are a form of
Standard precautions are a form of “better safe than sorry,” as you care for and view every patient as potentially carrying transmittable disease—you don’t discriminate
Hygiene and the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) are two important aspects of the standard precautions. What is personal protective equipment (PPE)
clothing, helmets, goggles and other clothing designed to protect the wearer from harm
Standard Precautions: Hand Hygiene
Proper technique for hand-washing before and after every contact with patients or equipment and putting on or removing gloves
Standard Precautions: Using PPE
Wearing gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection, and any other garment as appropriate for the task
Standard Precautions: Cough Etiquette
Patients and staff must cover their mouth and nose when coughing, dispose of tissues, and wash hands after contact with respiratory secretions. In addition, patients who are coughing should be provided with face masks to reduce the possibility of airborne transmission of disease.
Standard Precautions: Preventing Needle Sticks
Needles and other sharp instruments can accidentally pierce the skin of workers. Proper technique to use and dispose of needles is key in preventing the spread of blood-borne illnesses. Also, special care must be taken when giving injections to prevent the spread of disease from one patient to another.
Standard Precautions: Environmental Cleanliness
Use proper techniques and disinfectants when cleaning all areas of the healthcare environment. Sterilize all equipment used with patients. Properly dispose of waste and handle linens to prevent transmission of disease.
What role does the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have on healthcare
. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registers the chemicals that are used in cleaning medical environments and enforces rules relating to their use.
What role does the The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) play in healthcare
The International Organization for Standardization brings experts together to develop standards for products, services, and systems that ensure quality, safety, and efficiency.
What standards has the ISO made
The ISO has standards for medical devices, occupational safety, and risk management, among many other standards that can be applied to the healthcare field.
What role does the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) have on laboratory services, such as the testing of blood and other human tissue?
the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) provides federal standards for safe and accurate laboratory operation. CLIA provides technical assistance and research to improve lab operations in the United States.
What role does the Food and Drug Administration ahve on healthcare
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the safety, effectiveness, quality, and security of medical devices, medications, and the nation’s food supply.
What roel does the World Helath Organization (WHO) have on healthcare
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides leadership on improving health worldwide, sets norms and standards, shapes research agendas, and assesses health trends.
The largest biomedical and public health research organization in the world is the ..
US National Institute of Health (NIH)
what happens in the US National Institute of Health (NIH)
the US National Institute of Health (NIH), which has thousands of researchers working on all aspects of healthcare to improve care.
Waht are Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)
Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) are documents that give information about the occupational safety for the use of a certain product.
What things are required to have an SDS
Cleaning products, chemicals used in sterilizing equipment, and almost any other chemical substance that is sold for use in the workplace is required to have an SDS.
What is OSHA relationship with SDS
OSHA requires that a copy of the SDS for every product used is made available to employees and also to the local emergency personnel.
In what format should SDS be in
The SDS can be in a binder or in a digital format, but it must be readily accessible. The format for an SDS is a standard 16 sections
What should SDS contian
information about the names of chemicals the product contains, the description and symbols of the type of hazard posed by the product, handling and storage instructions, and measures for first aid, fire-fighting, and accidental release of the product.
Workers need to be familiar with the SDS for any product that they handle, but there are also signs that are used as standard practice in healthcare to warn about specific hazards. Typical hazard signs in healthcare will include:
where radiation is in use, where oxygen (which is very flammable) is in use, biological hazards, electrical hazards, and in isolation areas for specific infectious diseases.
Signs that assist in a facility may include
Signs that assist in a facility may include directions to exits in case of fire or other emergency, directional signs, room numbers, and many more signs to help people orient themselves and stay safe at all times.
Security is a basic human psychological need. What does security mean in healthcare facilites
Security in healthcare facilities means keeping medications locked so that the wrong person doesn’t take them
