Infection control is a vital service for individuals all across the world, especially post-covid where many are in fear of their health and wellness on almost a daily basis. From disease prevention methods, and vaccination protocols, the world is a very different place these days and according to CDC guidelines there is quite a bit that needs to be done within the healthcare setting. At New York Infection Control Consulting Services, they provide IPC consulting and IPC advisor services for clients all across New York City and beyond. They work with your organization, and its supervisors to implement vital infection control methods and protocols, in order for you to acquire vital certifications and standards that are necessary to your healthcare practice to operate. At NYICCS, we use a series of standard infection control precautions to provide the best overall infection control and disease prevention for viral outbreaks. In this article, we will be going over a few of the most important methods.
Patient Placement & AssessmentOne of the core foundations of infection control is that patients must be immediately assessed for the risk of infection. When it comes to infection control CDC guidelines will often place key importance on this aspect. When a patient arrives at your facility or clinic, they must immediately be assessed for their risk of infection. Patients who show cross-infection risks should be isolated on arrival and appropriate clinical samples and screening undertaken as per national protocols to establish the causative pathogen.
Hand HygieneA common area of concern amongst a number of different healthcare facilities is hand hygiene. As many have noticed, across multiple hospitals and clinics, the use of hand sanitizer stations and additional bathrooms. According to the team at NYICCS, the best IPC advisor NYC has to offer, the use of hand sanitizer and hand hygiene overall is a vital aspect in reducing the spread of unwanted infectious diseases and issues. A key point to understand about hand hygiene in the clinical setting is that hand washing sinks must only be used for hand hygiene and must not be used for the disposal of other liquids - as individuals might see a sink and think its okay to dump their coffee or other liquids into it. It's important to separate and create mandates amongst your employees so they understand this separation.
Coughing and Respiratory ProtocolsBreathing clean air is important and respiratory transmission is a common means of viral outbreaks. Having a strong respiratory and cough hygiene protocol in place is designed to minimize the risk of cross-transmission of respiratory illness. According to the team at NYICCS, you should make sure that individuals cover their noses and mouths with tissues when sneezing, coughing, or blowing their nose. In addition, it's actually important to have employees practice sneezing and coughing into their elbows if no tissue is available. This might seem basic, but it is actually a vital part of CDC infection control protocols.
Protective EquipmentFrom eyewear, and masks, to gloves and shoe covers, within the healthcare setting, having the right protective equipment is vital in order to prevent infection issues from occurring. According to the team at NYICCS, known for the best IPC consulting services NYC has to offer, prior to taking on any task in which there might be some exposure to blood, or other fluids, it is vital to perform a careful and thorough check that all equipment is not only being worn, but is functioning as it should. During your onboarding, the NYICCS team will work closely with your staff to create protocols and mandates so that you understand exactly what is needed to protect yourself at that precise moment in time, depending on the specific task at hand.
For more information on infection control measures and standards, be sure to contact NYICCS today.