ANNUAL SAFETY EDUCATION 2015
Transcription
ANNUAL SAFETY EDUCATION 2015
A U LT M A N H E A LT H F O U N D AT I O N ANNUAL SAFETY EDUCATION 2015 A U LT M A N H O S P I TA L Thank you for participating in the 2015 Annual Safety Education Program. This program will help you to meet your mandatory safety education requirements, as required by The Joint Commission, hospital administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and various other regulatory agencies. Additional educational subjects are included at the conclusion of the newsletter. It is your responsibility as an employee to read and understand these topics and apply them as needed. In order to meet your requirements, you must read this newsletter, follow the directions based on your role in the organization and complete the post-test through the organization's Learning Management System. You must score 80% or greater to successfully pass the post-test. If you have any questions while reading this newsletter or taking the post-test, please contact your supervisor or the Safety Department at ext. 34293. ANNUAL SAFETY EDUCATION 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS ENVIRONMENT OF CARE Ohio Emergency Codes..........................................................1 Emergency Preparedness Plan for Utilities.........................2 Security Services...................................................................2 Fire Safety..............................................................................3 Incident Reporting and Root Cause Analysis......................3 Tobacco-free Policy ...............................................................4 Safety Counts Every Time ...................................................4 Hospital Incident Command System....................................5 MRI Safety and You..............................................................5 Mass Notification System......................................................5 Needlestick/Significant Exposure Safety.............................5 Back Injury Prevention and Lifting Techniques..................6 Forensic Education................................................................6 Workplace Violence...............................................................6 Hazardous Communications.................................................7 Concealed Weapons...............................................................8 Seasonal Safety .....................................................................8 Negative Air Flow Rooms......................................................9 Electrical Safety.....................................................................9 Patient Owned Equipment....................................................9 Cellular Phones......................................................................9 INFECTION CONTROL Tuberculosis Control.............................................................9 Bloodborne Pathogens .........................................................9 Infection Prevention and Control.......................................10 PATIENT CARE HRO......................................................................................11 2014 National Patient Safety Goals...................................12 Right to Meaningful Knowledge.........................................17 Patient Rights......................................................................17 Alarm Safety........................................................................17 Medical Devices and Patient Safety...................................17 Falls Assessment.................................................................17 Pain......................................................................................18 Restraints.............................................................................18 Stroke Safety........................................................................19 Early Heart Attack Care.....................................................19 Abuse/Neglect......................................................................20 COMPLIANCE Accrediting Bodies...............................................................16 Corporate Compliance.........................................................20 Privacy and Confidentiality................................................20 ANNUAL SAFETY EDUCATION 2015 OHIO EMERGENCY CODES Aultman Hospital adopted the Ohio Emergency Codes in 2003. They continue to be the standard that all Ohio hospitals use for notification of emergencies. Community first responders dedicated to public safety (police, fire, EMS) have also adopted these codes. CODE RED Fire (Paged Overhead) Fire alarm pull stations are located near exits and stairwells. Please locate the one closest to your unit. In the event of a Code Red, please follow the fire safety recommendations as instructed on page 3 of this newsletter. Remember RACE and PASS! CODE ADAM Infant/Child Abduction (Paged Overhead) Dial ext. 36777 if an infant or child is missing or known to be kidnapped. Upon hearing Code Adam paged overhead, employees should secure all halls, stairwells, elevators, exits and bridges leading to and from the hospital. Any person carrying an infant or child, or object large enough to conceal a newborn infant should be stopped, and the object should be checked. If the person does not consent to an inspection, do not allow him or her to leave the property. Call Security Services immediately at ext. 36777. Refer to the Emergency Management Quick Reference Guide for additional information. Satellite facilities should call 911 in the event of a Code Adam. CODE BLACK Bomb/Bomb Threat In the event of a bomb threat, keep the caller on the line, and signal to another employee to call Security Services immediately at ext. 36777. Begin asking the caller the questions from the back of the green Bomb Placard sign posted on your unit. Remember to write down the caller’s responses! Things to remember during a call: 1.Remain calm. 2.Keep the caller on the line as long as possible. 3.Ask and write down as much information as you can. Be aware of the sound of the caller’s voice, accents, background noise, etc. If a suspicious item is found, DO NOT TOUCH IT. Call Security immediately. Refer to the Emergency Management Quick Reference Guide for additional information. Satellite facilities should call 911 in the event of a Code Black. CODE YELLOW Disaster (Paged Overhead) An internal/external disaster has occurred. Each department or unit has a specific plan. Send additional staff to the labor pool in the Morrow House Auditorium. DO NOT REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. Refer to the Emergency Management Quick Reference Guide for additional information. CODE GRAY Tornado/Severe Weather (Paged Overhead) Code Gray is implemented during periods of severe weather, based on alerts from weather services – or in response to municipal tornado siren activations. This process was revised in 2012 and eliminated the practice of using multiple phases. Staff will be notified of Code Gray implementation and conclusion through a series of overhead pages. For staff responsibilities and additional information, please refer to the Code Gray policy and the Emergency Management Quick Reference Guide. CODE ORANGE Hazardous Material Spill/Release Contain the hazardous material, and refer to the Emergency Management Quick Reference Guide for additional information. Notify the Spill Consulting Team at ext. 36888. CODE BLUE Adult/Pediatric Medical Emergency – Cardiopulmonary or Respiratory Arrest (Paged Overhead) Dial 35222 to activate. Refer to hospital policy for additional information. CODE PINK Infant Medical Distress (Paged Overhead) Newborn in distress in Labor and Delivery, NICU or the Emergency Department. Dial 35222. Refer to hospital policy for additional information. CODE VIOLET Violent/Combative Patient Immediately call Security at ext. 36777. Satellite facilities should immediately call 911 for assistance. 1 Ohio Emergency Codes continued CODE SILVER Person with Weapon/Hostage Situation/Active Shooter Incident (Paged Overhead) Dial 36777 for Security. Isolate patients, visitors and staff, if possible. Security will reroute all operational traffic away from areas above, below or adjacent to the incident. Work cooperatively with the responding police jurisdiction and Aultman Security Services. Refer to the Emergency Management Quick Reference Guide and educational resources on the employee portal for additional information. CODE BROWN Missing Adult Patient (Paged Overhead, Mr. or Mrs.) Immediately notify security by dialing 36777. Staff should monitor all entrances/exits to floor. Security will monitor remainder of hospital. Code Brown will be paged overhead and prefaced with a “Mr. or Mrs.” depending on the patient’s gender. Refer to the Emergency Management Quick Reference Guide for additional information. CODE WHITE Severe or Inclement Winter Weather Code White refers to extended periods of severe or inclement winter weather conditions that may adversely impact staffing levels and the facility’s ability to provide patient care. Code White operations include the identification of critical employees and units, appropriate staffing levels, lodging arrangements and transportation resources. Please refer to the Code White Policy and the Emergency Management Quick Reference Guide for additional information. CODE GREEN Class A Reportable Infectious Disease Code Green indicates the presence of a patient suspected to have a Class A Reportable Infectious Disease, as defined by the Ohio Department of Health. The activation of Code Green is intended to streamline the notification of key departments and leadership. Code Green is activated by contacting the hospital operator at extension 36888 (330.363.6888). For additional information, please reference the “Suspected Category A Pathogen Notification Plan (Code Green)” on PolicyTech.” 2 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN FOR UTILITIES MEDICAL GASES In the event of a fire, the unit manager or charge person makes the determination as to whether to shut off the medical gases. Call the following departments if the oxygen is shut off: Respiratory Therapy, Maintenance, Safety and your administrator. Know where your medical gas shut-off is located and how to operate it. COMMUNICATIONS In the event of telephone failure, use the greenlabeled telephones located in selected areas throughout the hospital. Please locate the greenlabeled phone closest to your unit. This phone will have a large green sticker on the top, and emergency use instructions. Two-way radios have also been placed in all departments where green telephones are located as well as in the NICU, CVSICU, CVOR, CCU, Pediatrics and Psychiatry. ELECTRIC In the event of a power failure, the red, orange and brown outlets will be powered by generators or uninterruptable power supply (UPS) and can be used for life-saving equipment. Only lifesaving equipment is to be plugged into the red outlets. Coffee pots, microwaves, toasters, etc. are not to be plugged into these outlets at any time. SECURITY SERVICES Security officers help provide a safe and secure environment for all employees, patients and visitors. Aultman Security Services offers escorts to/from vehicles, tire changes, securing of valuables and response to emergency situations. Offices are located in the registration area of the Emergency Department and the ground level of the main hospital next to the stockroom. Employees are responsible for reporting any suspicious activities or persons to Security immediately at ext. 36268. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE Person Appearing to Require Medical Aid Dial 36777 if a visitor or employee needs medical assistance. Satellite facilities should call 911 for emergency medical assistance. Aultman Security Services also provides 24 hour coverage at Aultman Woodlawn and Aultman Orrville and can be reached at the following numbers: Aultman Woodlawn: 330-323-8252 Aultman Orrville: 330-466-6483 SATELLITE FACILITIES Contact 911 directly in the event of an emergency, then follow building-specific procedures. Security is also available during business hours at the following locations: Aultman North Canton Medical Group: 330-495-8059 Aultman Pain Management: 330-454-7237 FIRE SAFETY Fires are a threat in hospitals. According to the National Fire Protection Association, thousands of fires in hospitals are reported every year. Many patients are helpless during a fire emergency due to illness and special needs, increasing their risk of injury or death. There are four classes of fires: CLASS A fires involve the burning of ordinary combustibles like wood, paper, clothes, rubber or certain plastics. CLASS B fires involve the burning of gases and liquids. CLASS C fires involve the burning of electrical equipment such as appliances, air conditioning and heating units, motors and generators that are plugged in. CLASS D fires involve the burning of certain metals. TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Fire extinguishers are an important defense for putting out fires and can save lives. Make sure you know where the fire extinguishers are kept and how to operate them. In health care facilities, fire extinguishers are designed to put out Class A, Class B and Class C fires. ABC extinguishers can be used to fight any type of hospital fires and are marked with an ABC. If a fire starts, think and act quickly and safely. Remember the steps associated with RACE and PASS: R - Rescue (anyone in harm’s way) A - Alarm (by activating a pull station) C - Contain (the fire) E - Extinguish (using a fire extinguisher) To use the extinguisher: P- Pull the pin A - Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire S - Squeeze the handle together S - Sweep the extinguisher from side to side Be prepared before a fire occurs: 1. Review how to move patients to another unit on your floor and how to move patients to a unit on a floor above or below your own. 2. Review exit routes. 3. Be familiar with pull station locations. 4. Keep the hallways of your work area free from obstructions. 5. Be familiar with smoke and fire walls. 6. Never block smoke doors, fire doors or exits. 7. Keep calm. 8. If evacuation is necessary, first evacuate horizontally past a fire seperation, then vertically if necessary. I N C I D E N T R E P O R T I N G A N D R O O T C A U S E A N A LY S I S Safety Values: At Aultman, safety is our top priority. As Aultman team members, we are expected to: •Work to provide a safe environment. •Always communicate safety concerns. •Participate in safety education. •Recognize safety excellence. •Contribute ideas to improve safety. •Immediately stop any process if a safety concern is present. Sentinel Event: Unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury or the risk thereof. Serious Safety Event (SSE): A deviation in generally accepted performance standards that causes moderate to severe harm or death to a patient. Precursor Safety Event (PSE): Errors that reach the patient, but cause minimal, temporary, harm or no detectable harm. Near Miss: Any process variation that did not affect the outcome, but for which a recurrence carries a significant chance of serious, adverse outcome. Serious safety events and/or sentinel events should be reported immediately to your supervisor and to Patient Safety Officer Laurie Clark, RN, at ext. 33923 in addition to entering a variance. Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Process improvement tool that focuses primarily on systems and processes in order to identify potential improvements, and decrease the likelihood of future adverse events. Incident (Variance) Reporting: All quality and patient safety concerns should be reported through the electronic variance reporting system. Contact Patient Safety Officer Laurie Clark, RN, at ext. 33923 if you need assistance with entering a report. A variance report may be completed through the safety tab on the employee portal. Variance reporting is nonpunitive. However, performance issues and certain actions may warrant disciplinary action if an individual knew of or intended to violate a policy, procedure or duty in the course of performing a task. Safety Concerns: General safety concerns can be reported by selecting “Safety Suggestions” under the “Safety” tab on the employee portal. Concerns may be reported anonymously, or follow-up may be received by selecting "yes" and entering current contact information. For more information, please review the sentinel event and variance reporting policies on the employee portal. 3 TOBACCO-FREE POLICY As we continue to lead our community to improved health, Aultman Hospital and all of its other buildings are tobacco-free. Employees, patients, visitors, physicians, students and contractors are not permitted to use tobacco products in the building or anywhere on the premises, including parking lots, sidewalks, streets and vehicles. The use of electronic cigarettes is also prohibited on Aultman grounds. Please contact Human Resources for information on tobacco cessation assistance for interested employees. SAFETY COUNTS EVERY TIME At Aultman, safety is our top priority. As an Aultman team member, safety counts every time. Employees are expected to work to provide a safe environment, communicate safety concerns, recognize safety excellence, contribute ideas to improve safety, and immediately stop any process if a safety concern is present. The process identified below outlines the steps that will occur if an employee experiences an injury on the job. EMPLOYEE OCCUPATIONAL INJURY/ILLNESS: An Employee injury/illness is any event or exposure occurring in the work environment that results in an injury or illness. A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in an injury or illness, but had the potential to do so. EMPLOYEE OCCUPATIONAL INJURY/ILLNESS REPORT: In the event of a work-related injury/illness, all employees are required to immediately notify their supervisor and complete an “Employee Occupational Injury/Illness Report,” even if medical treatment is not required. This report titled “Injury Report/Exposure,” is accessible under the “Safety” tab on the employee portal. PURPOSE OF TIMELY REPORTING: An “Employee Occupational Injury/Illness Report” serves as the official documentation of a work-related incident and initiates the workers’ compensation process in determining if the incident was within the course and scope of employment. Reporting also assists in notifying key personnel who identify and remove safety hazards, identify trends, implement preventative measures and initiates revisions of policies/procedures to prevent the incident from happening in the future. 4 HOSPITAL INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM (HICS) HICS is a nationwide system created to coordinate disaster responses among government agencies, hospitals, police, fire and EMS. HICS can join hospitals and other response agencies together in a crisis. Everyone can communicate quickly and effectively when using the structure of the incident command system, which is a flexible system designed around standardized positions, rather than specific people. Aultman’s Incident Command Center is located in the Heart Center Classroom on the third floor of the Bedford Building. When a CODE YELLOW (disaster) is called, each unit should send a representative to the Labor Pool with the number and type of staff members in their units. The Labor Pool meets in the Morrow House Auditorium. DO NOT REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. Please refer to your Emergency Management Quick Reference Guide for additional information. Satellite facilities should follow policy and procedures directly relating to their specific building. MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM Aultman’s mass notification system is an Internet-based tool capable of efficiently communicating emergent information to employees via phone, text, email and pager. The mass notification system will only be used during times of emergency or disaster. The mass notification system uses contact information stored in the HR database to communicate. For the system to accurately communicate, all employees must maintain current contact information with Human Resources on an ongoing basis. Please refer to the Mass Notification Policy for additional information. ANNUAL SAFETY EDUCATION 2015 MRI SAFETY AND YOU There are general safety tips that can keep you and your patient safe when entering the MRI scanning area: •Remember the MRI is always ON. •The magnet is very strong. NEEDLESTICK/SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE SAFETY Standard universal precautions should be observed to prevent contact with blood or other body fluids. All body fluids shall be considered potentially infectious materials. Sharps devices and changes in work practices are used to lower exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material. Examples of sharps devices include safety lancets, shielded needle devices, and retractable angiocatheters. Examples of changes in work practices include not recapping needles and the use of surgical blade removers. If these devices and changes in work practice do not eliminate exposure, the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required (i.e., masks, gloves, goggles, gown, head and foot coverings). In the event of an exposure, the following steps should be taken: 1.For punctures, cuts, or abrasions: wash the affected area with soap and water, make the wound bleed. For splashes to mucous membranes (eye, nose, mouth): flush the affected area with tap water. 2.Call your supervisor immediately. 3.Fill out an Employee Occupational Injury/Illness Report and a Communication Form for Significant Exposure. These forms should be completed through the "Safety" tab on the employee portal. •The closer you get, the STRONGER the pull. •Beware of all items that can become projectiles – such as oxygen canisters, keys, floor scrubbers, hand tools, IP phones, Caremobile units, etc. •Medical implants such as pacemakers, aneurysm clips and TENS units can also pose hazards. Injuries related to dislodged implants can occur. •Only use equipment that has been tested and approved for use within the MRI scan room. ALWAYS check with an MRI technologist before entering the MRI room. •Call the Employee Health nurse or supervisor immediately if the exposure involved a known hepatitis or HIV-positive patient. •Follow-up blood work, hepatitis vaccines, and tetanus vaccines are available to employees free of charge. •The patient’s results will be available in Health Services within 48 hours. 5 BACK INJURY PREVENTION AND LIFTING TECHNIQUES Injury prevention is a major part of our commitment to providing a safe working environment. Back injuries can result when using the wrong lifting techniques. To help avoid injury to your back when lifting and moving objects, three tips on proper lifting are listed: TIP 1: Plan Your Lift and Move Each time you have to move an object or a patient, your first step must be to plan your move. Planning your move means making sure you have a clear path to your destination before attempting to lift and move the load. Make sure the area through which you are moving the load is clear of obstructions. If there are obstructions, be sure to clear a path before lifting and moving the load. Also, check that there are no dangerous conditions anywhere along the path, such as a wet floor or steps. TIP 2: Test the Load Before moving the load, you must make sure you can handle the weight comfortably. Test the load by gently trying to lift to see if it’s too heavy or cumbersome to be moved. Either call for assistance in moving it, or use a device such as a patient lifting device, cart or dolly to assist you. TIP 3: Bend the Knees, Keep Upper Body Straight You should lift an object by bending your knees and keeping your upper body comfortably straight. Lift the object using your legs, not your back. When assisting a patient to transfer take your time and think BEGINS: • Belt: Always use a gait belt (Available for order by directors on BOS). Place the belt around the patient while the patient is seated and is safe at the edge of the bed. If unable to safely sit at the edge of bed, consider use of lifting device. • Edge of bed: Always make sure the patient is positioned out toward the edge of the bed/chair, but not too far out that the patient could slide off the edge. • Get their feet underneath them: As far as they are comfortably able to. • Initiate: Let the PATIENT initiate the movement then standby and assist as necessary. • Nose over toes: The forward weight shift is essential for the lift and descent. This is key to reducing the workload on caregiver and the patient. • Safety: If you have safety concerns, attain a second person if you do not already have someone. If you still cannot safely transfer the patient with a second person, consider a lifting device. This will be safer for you and the patient. 6 F O R E N S I C E D U C AT I O N Aultman requires that all inpatient prisoners be guarded continuously by the custodial agency responsible for the prisoner. Upon admission, the unit must notify Aultman Security Services to make sure that all policies and procedures are followed. Patient rights will be maintained with the exception of any legal restrictions as determined and enforced by forensic staff, such as limiting visitation or phone use. Decisions affecting the care of the forensic patient will not be based on the criteria set by forensic staff. Upon discharge, the patient will be returned to the custody of forensic staff. Refer to Patient Under Legal or Correctional Restriction Policy. WO RKPL ACE VIO LE N C E Aultman is committed to providing a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff. As such, incidents of disruptive behavior and workplace violence will not be tolerated, and must be reported as soon as it is safe to do so. Aultman will not retaliate against employees making good faith reports of incidents of disruptive behavior and workplace violence. Workplace violence is defined as any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting. Disruptive behavior is defined as conduct by an individual working in the organization that intimidates others to the extent that quality and safety are compromised. Workplace violence incidents may involve visitors, co-workers, patients/ customers and personal relationships. If you experience any type of disruptive behavior or workplace violence, remove yourself from the situation, contact Security and/or law enforcement, and notify your Unit Director/ supervisor. For additional information, please reference the “ Disruptive Behavior and Workplace Violence Prevention Program” on PolicyTech. HAZARD COMMUNICATIONS The Hazard Communication Standard (OSHA 29CFR 1910.1200), known as the “Right to Know” standard, originated in 1983 in the manufacturing industry and was adopted by the healthcare industry in 1987. The Hazard Communication Standard was significantly updated in 2012, to include the adoption of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (otherwise known as GHS). Aultman’s “Hazard Communication Program” is available for reference through PolicyTech on the Employee Portal. The Hazard Communication Program serves as Aultman’s blueprint for the 5 requirements of the standard, which include a written program, the use of Safety Data Sheets (SDS), labeling, inventory, and training. 1. Written Program: Hazardous Communication Program is located on the Employee Portal under the Tools tab under Policies and Procedures. It is designed to provide employees with education to protect employees from contact with hazardous chemicals at work. 2. Safety Data Sheets (SDS): Safety Data Sheets (formally known as Material Safety Data Sheets, or MSDS) are technical bulletins that provide information on a product’s chemical hazards. With the adoption of GHS in 2012, Safety Data Sheets now use a specific 16 section format, providing consistency in the information provided. Safety Data Sheets can be accessed through Aultman’s MSDSonline® program, available through the “Safety” tab on the Employee Portal. The “Emergency Management Quick Reference Guide” also has the SDS search instructions under the Code Orange Section. In the event you cannot find the SDS or your computer is not working, call Security (ext.36268). For assistance during business hours, questions can be addressed to the Safety Department at ext.34293. 3. Labeling – chemical manufacturers are required to have the new GHS label format implemented by June 2015. Labels are required to have the 6 elements listed below with a GHS label example. a. b. c. d. e. f. Product Identifier (on top of the label) Signal Word (1) Pictogram (2) Hazard Statement (3) Precautionary Statements (4) Manufacturer Contact Information (5) GHS Label Example: If you have a concern about a label, contact the Safety Department at ext.34293. 4. Inventory: The hazardous material inventory is maintained by the Hazmat Coordinator. It is reviewed and revised annually, or as needed. Each department is responsible for maintaining their own hazardous material inventory. The hazardous material inventory for each department is reviewed during the environmental tour process. Chemicals or products not on the list should be reported to the Hazmat Coordinator. 5. Training: Employees receive training on the Hazard Communication Standard through the new hire orientation process. Additional training occurs at the department level, as appropriate. Toxicologists test materials and report the level of materials of which we can work with safely. This amount is called a permissible exposure limit. Although we can work safely with hazardous materials below this limit, the best way to minimize risk is to keep our exposure as low as possible. To do this, use the lowest amount of a product necessary for the job, use good ventilation, wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and avoid contact with your skin or eyes. Chemicals can enter the body through four common ways: 1. Ingesting or eating the material: Eating or ingesting chemicals usually occurs when food and hazardous chemicals are used or stored in the same vicinity. 2. Through the skin: Absorption through the skin usually requires significant contact time and can be minimized by preventing exposure, wearing protective clothing, and using good hygiene practices. 3. Breathing or Inhaling: Inhaling chemicals is usually the most significant route of entry. Using only the amount of chemical or product necessary for the job, keeping containers closed and maintaining good ventilation can reduce the risk of breathing or inhaling the chemical. 4. Punctures, Cuts, Open Wounds: Chemicals can enter the body through punctures, cuts and open wounds. If you have any of these injuries present, make sure they are adequately covered and you are using personal protective equipment. 7 ADDITIONAL HAZARD COMMUNICATION INFORMATION 1. Code Orange (Chemical Spill): Orange-colored Spill Management Placards are posted in areas where spills can occur. Copies of the placard are available thru the Safety Department upon request. The Emergency Management Quick Reference Guide contains the Code Orange procedure. It should be posted in your department. It is also available on the Employee Portal under the “Safety” tab. 2. Blood Spill Safety: Blood spills must be cleaned using a solution of 1:10 bleach to water, Red Z or an appropriate spill kit. Additional supplies are available for order through Purchasing. 3. Hazardous or Unknown Substances Policy – This is located on the Employee Portal, under the “Tools” tab under “Policies and Procedures.” Aultman does not accept, for testing or storage, any materials that are not used in routine business operations. Any person who has such material will be referred to the appropriate health department or county HAZMAT team. The procedure for treatment of contaminated individuals is located in the “Care of the Contaminated Patient with Hazardous Substances” policy, located on the Employee Portal, under the “Tools” tab, under “Policies and Procedures.” Any employee coming across situations as described above must call Security at ext. 36777, who will then call the Safety Director. CONCEALED WEAPONS Ohio’s concealed carry law allows an individual to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun in Ohio, including into private businesses. Aultman has adopted a policy to restrict the carrying of handguns or any concealed weapons onto any of its properties, excluding governmental law-enforcement officers. Employees are not permitted to carry firearms with them while performing in the role of their jobs, regardless of location. Signs are posted at all main entrances of Aultman. Security and the unit supervisor should be notified immediately if anyone is believed to be carrying a weapon. At no time should employees put their safety at risk. 8 SEASON SAFETY CAUTION ICE! W AT C H Y O U R S T E P The winter season can create numerous hazards for Aultman team members, visitors, and patients. Weather related conditions may cause an increase in slip, trip and fall accidents in parking lots, sidewalks and building entrances. Employees can keep themselves safe and off the ground with these tips to preventing slips, trips, and falls on snow and ice. Tips to Preventing Slips and Trips on Snow and Ice •Wear appropriate footwear to increase traction. Smooth leather soles and high heels offer little traction on ice and snow. •Use caution when entering or exiting your vehicle and pay attention to the surface condition. •Walk on surfaces that have been cleared or treated when possible. Avoid taking shortcuts. •Avoid carrying large or heavy loads that can throw off your balance when walking. •Avoid stepping on uneven surfaces. •Avoid walking with your hands in your pockets, as this reduces your ability to use your arms for balance if you do slip. •Slow down and take shorter steps so you can react to a change in traction more easily. •Pay attention to detail when walking on winter surfaces; minimize distractions by avoiding the use of cell phones and other electronic devices when walking. •Report any unsafe conditions immediately. ANNUAL SAFETY EDUCATION 2015 N E G AT I V E A I R F L O W R O O M S ELECTRICAL SAFETY ANNUAL SAFETY EDUCATION 2015 All hospital-owned medical equipment that is on a preventive maintenance schedule should have a white sticker listing the inspection date and the followup inspection date. It is your responsibility to look for that sticker and make sure the date for reinspection has not passed. All non-medical equipment that is on a preventive maintenance schedule should have an asset tag on it showing the equipment number, model and serial number. All negative pressure isolation rooms are tested for proper airflow on a quarterly basis. When a negative pressure room is needed, nursing is to call the Help Desk at ext. 36226 to have the negative pressure room tested. This should occur prior to admitting a patient to the room. Once the room has passed inspection, Maintenance will tell the charge nurse to document room compliance and instruct the nurses to use their keys to turn on pressure monitoring alarms (where applicable) outside the room. Nursing is required to notify the Help Desk at ext. 36226 on a daily basis to ensure the room is then checked daily until the patient is released. When the patient is released, nursing should use their keys to turn off the pressure monitoring alarms outside the room. CELLULAR PHONES The use of cellular phones is not allowed inside the hospital and in other buildings where patient care is performed. Cellular phones are permitted for usage by the public in all waiting areas, lobbies and cafeterias. Cellular phones may interfere with medical equipment when used in patient care areas. A N N U A L S A F E T Y E D U C AT I O N 2 0 15 B L O O D B O R N E PAT H O G E N S Dealing with the possible contact of bloodborne pathogens is a usual part of the day for many staff. By using standard precautions, we treat everyone as if they have potentially infectious blood, body fluids and moist body substances. It is important that all staff members take a moment to protect themselves by first putting on appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, masks, eye covers/ goggles or additional coverings. Transmission can occur when body fluids or moist body substances of a source patient have contact with a portal of entry in the health care worker. In the health care setting, transmission usually occurs through needlesticks, sharps injuries, or splashes to the eyes, nose, mouth or open areas of skin. Our Exposure Control Plan helps to educate staff to decrease the risk of transmission and is to be used when caring for all patients. The standard precautions are a combination of universal precautions and body substance isolation that focuses on the isolation of all moist body substances including blood, feces, urine, sputum, saliva, wound drainage and other body fluids. Personal equipment such as radios only need to be inspected and stickered upon being introduced into the facility. Maintenance no longer requires annual reinspection of these devices. The owner of the equipment will be responsible for completing a daily inspection to ensure electrical safety. Call the Help Desk at ext. 36226 if you find any past-due inspection dates or have any equipment issues. PAT I E N T- O W N E D EQUIPMENT All patient-owned electrical appliances and medical equipment must be checked prior to use. Call the Help Desk at ext. 36226 to have an item inspected. If the item is approved for use, it will receive a dated white or green sticker. All patient-owned electric blankets, heating pads, etc. are strictly prohibited. TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL Staff members are required to submit to TB testing upon hire and following an exposure to TB. Exposed staff will have TB testing at the time of the exposure and at 10 weeks following the initial test. Staff who work in specified areas considered medium risk, high risk, or areas indicated by our annual TB Risk Assessment, will be required to submit to annual or more frequent testing as necessary. Staff having signs or symptoms of this contagious, airborne disease are strongly encouraged to notify Employee Health Services and should contact their private physician for evaluation/treatment. Patients suspect for, or diagnosed with TB are placed in Airborne Isolation until TB is ruled out. 9 INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL Infection control means reducing the spread of infections to patients, families, and co-workers. The prevention of infection is everyone’s responsibility. Hand hygiene is the single most important technique to prevent the spread of infection! Please be aware of the following hand hygiene information: THE 5 MOMENTS OF HAND HYGIENE ARE: 1. Before touching a patient 2. Before clean/aseptic procedures 3. After body fluid exposure/risk 4. After touching a patient 5. After touching a patient surrounding SOAP AND WATER HAND WASH IS REQUIRED: •When hands are visibly or physically soiled. •After any contact with a patient/environment suspected or known to have spores (i.e., Clostridium difficile or Bacillus anthracus). •After any contact with a patient/environment suspected or diagnosed with Norovirus. PATIENT PERCEPTION OF HAND HYGIENE Multiple types of hand hygiene education have been presented to staff including ongoing competencies and even a video presentation about the World Health Organization’s 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene. Despite our efforts to increase staff compliance, patient perception of hand hygiene among caregivers has been noted to be less than desirable. Recent National Research Corporation patient satisfaction survey results indicated Aultman health care personnel (HCP), specifically nurses and physicians, are not performing hand hygiene as often as necessary. HAND-WASHING STEPS: 1. Wet hands under water. 2. Apply soap, being sure to lather ALL surfaces for 15 seconds. 3. Rinse thoroughly. 4. Dry thoroughly with paper towel. 5. Use towel to turn faucet off. 6. May follow with alcohol-based hand sanitizer to reduce bacterial counts. ALCOHOL-BASED HAND SANITIZER •Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is readily available throughout the organization. Hands may be decontaminated by using alcohol-based hand sanitizer when: •Hands are not visibly/physically soiled. •Situations have not occurred requiring a soap and water hand wash. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION “MY 5 MOMENTS FOR HAND HYGIENE” The World Health Organization has established guidelines indicating 5 specific moments in which health care workers should perform hand hygiene “at the point of care.” This approach will be used to monitor our hand hygiene compliance within the hospital. Be reminded of Your 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene: Your 5 Moments E OR ASEP TIC EF EAN/ EDUR L E C ROC 2 P B for Hand Hygiene 4 10 1 BEFORE TOUCHING A PATIENT Y E 3 AFTER TOUCHING A PATIENT D AF T E R BO U FLU OS P I D X E RIS K R 1 BEFORE TOUCHING A PATIENT 5 WHEN? Clean your hands before touching a patient when approaching him/her. WHY? To protect the patient against harmful germs carried on your hands. AFTER TOUCHING PATIENT SURROUNDINGS Opportunities in which hands are cleansed and are not observable by a patient are often perceived as not completed by the HCP. As a result of the timing of hand hygiene, patients may not know if HCP have cleansed their hands. For example, hand hygiene may be performed upon exiting one patient’s room immediately prior to entering another patient’s room. Additionally, the location of sinks and Purell dispensers may be in areas that are out of the patient’s sight; contributing to the patient’s perception of the absence of hand hygiene. Patients have been encouraged to remind HCP to cleanse their hands in the event they have not observed this action. Studies have shown patient are often uncomfortable confronting HCP, as they felt embarrassed or awkward and did not want to seem disrespectful. The following strategies have been identified as ways to provide a heightened awareness to both patients and HCPs. • Cleanse hands in the patient’s sight. This allows them to recognize that this important piece of their care has been completed. • Discuss hand hygiene while cleansing hands. This increases patient awareness and perception, encourages patient recognition of the importance of cleansing their own hands, and imbeds the action of hand hygiene deeper into HCP’s everyday practice. • Openly discuss hand hygiene and invite the patient to become more active in speaking up when they see that HCP have not taken the appropriate opportunity to cleanse their hands. (Infection Prevention and Control continued) As a High Reliability Organization, the ultimate goal is to provide the safest experience for our patients. Please begin having conversations with your patients about hand hygiene. Invite patients to discuss any missed opportunities with you. Opening the lines of communication will often decrease the patient’s anxiety with an uncomfortable conversation and may improve their confidence in the care provided. Perform hand hygiene in the view of the patient. This is your opportunity to show patients the importance of hand hygiene in their safe care. Another important component of infection prevention and control is the practice of transmission-driven isolation precautions. These precautions are used in addition to standard precautions and are for patients who are known or suspected to be infected or colonized with certain infectious agents. All health care workers are required to adhere to isolation practices as per the Infection Control Policies and Procedures. Medical or infectious waste is anything disposable that is contaminated with blood or body fluids. Only throw away medical or infectious waste in red trash bags with a biohazard symbol. DO NOT place red bags in a regular trash bag or send red bags down the trash/laundry chutes. Place all red bags in the large, red trash barrel located in the dirty utility room on each unit. HIGH RELIABILITY ORGANIZATION Did you know your chance of dying in a plane crash are 1 in 10 million departures, but your chance of dying due to a medical error in a U.S. hospital is 1 in every 382 admissions? Hospitals do things right much of the time. But even very infrequent failures in critical processes can have terrible consequences for a patient, family and even an employee. This is why Aultman has embarked on a journey toward becoming a highly reliable organization. Employees have been trained on five tools for reliability and five tones to promote teamwork. These tools and tones are human error prevention strategies that help us to perform our tasks as intended consistently over time. By practicing what we have learned and ingraining it into our daily routines, we become highly reliable and achieve our desired outcomes. Can we count on you every time to use the tools and tones below? • Self-check using STAR: Stop-Think-Act-Review. 2. Communicate Clearly • Repeat back and read back to verify. • Use phonetic and numeric clarifications. • Ask clarifying questions. • When communicating about a problem, use SBAR – Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation. 3. Think Critically • Use a questioning attitude to validate and verify the information. 4. Cross Monitor YT E. IM • Use ARCC – Ask Questions, Make Requests, Voice Concerns, Use Chain of Command. R VE 5. Speak Up E ME • Peer-checking and Peer-coaching: Be willing to check others and have others check you. • 5:1 Feedback - Encourage safe and productive behaviors. • Give advice when others use unsafe and unproductive behaviors. 6. Smile and say hello. 7. Introduce yourself and your role. 8. Listen with empathy and intent to understand. 9. Communicate positive intent of your actions. 10. Provide opportunities for others to ask questions. ON 1. Pay Attention to Detail TONES for Teamwork YO UC AN CO UN T TOOLS for HRO 11 2015 NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY GOALS National Patient Safety Goals are established by The Joint Commission and are used to assist organizations in addressing identified concerns for patient safety. Goal 1: Improve the accuracy of patient identification. Use at least two patient identifiers when providing care, treatment and services. Aultman requires proper identification of patients by using two patient identifiers before administering medications or blood products; taking blood samples and other specimens for clinical testing or providing any other treatment or procedure. When administering blood or blood products, two qualified individuals must use two patient identifiers to verify transfusion information. Aultman accurately identifies patients by name, as well as date of birth or medical record number. Trauma patients are assigned a trauma number for identification. Misidentification of specimens can lead to significant harm to patients. Please make sure to follow the below steps for appropriate specimen collection: 1. Verify patient identity using the appropriate identifiers listed above. REMINDER: It is NEVER acceptable to use the patient’s room number or physical location as an identifier. 2. Obtain specimen. 3. Label specimen container in the presence of the patient. REMINDER: Blood Bank specimens must have a handwritten label with the patient’s full name, medical record number, date and time of collection and collector’s initials. 4. Once the specimen is labeled, compare to the patient identification band to check for discrepancies. 5. Prior to sending specimen to lab, the label on the specimen must be compared to the requisition to check for discrepancies. Eliminate transfusion errors related to patient misidentification. Match blood products to the order and the patient by using a two-person verification process. Goal 2: Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers. Report critical results of tests and diagnostic procedures on a timely basis. Critical results of tests and diagnostic procedures are reported to the licensed independent practitioner within 60 minutes of the result, even if the result is unchanged, improving or expected for a patient’s clinical diagnosis. Any result designated in the Critical Results 12 Reporting Policy may be life threatening and require immediate attention. The Critical Results policy, including the list of Critical Results, is available on the Policy & Procedure system (PolicyTech) on the employee portal. ALWAYS remember: The licensed caregiver must be notified within 60 minutes of the completion of the results. 60 minutes: A shared time between Lab or Radiology and Nursing to Provider Notification. •Results available → Results reported to Nursing → Results reported to provider Document the receipt of results, communication of the results, and any action in PROVIDER NOTIFICATION. Goal 3: Improve the safety of using medications. Label all medications, medication containers and other solutions on and off the sterile field in perioperative and other procedural settings. Note: Medication containers include syringes, medicine cups and basins. Medications and solutions MUST be labeled when… 99The medication or solution is not IMMEDIATELY administered by the person who has prepared the medication or solution. 99When any medication or solution has been transferred from the original packaging to another container. 99The person preparing the medication or solution does not administer it. Identification is done both visually and verbally by two individuals qualified to participate in the procedure. 99Multiple medications are being administered. Immediately discard any medication or solution found unlabeled. Remove all labeled containers on the sterile field and discard their contents at the conclusion of the procedure. All medications and solutions and their labels both on and off the sterile field MUST be reviewed by entering and exiting staff responsible for the management of medications. The LABEL must include the following information: 99Medication name 99Strength 99Quantity 99Diluent and volume (if not apparent from the container) 99Expiration date when not used within 24 hours 99Expiration time when expiration occurs in less than 24 hours Note: The date and time are not necessary for short procedures, as defined by the hospital. 2015 NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY GOALS Reduce the likelihood of patient harm associated with the use of anticoagulant therapy. One of our most important goals is to reduce the likelihood of patient harm associated with the use of anticoagulant therapy. Comprehensive education is provided to our patients with standardized educational pathways for Warfarin, Heparin, Plavix and Lovenox. Video education materials for Lovenox and Warfarin are also available. For the safety of our patients, INRs should be done daily on all patients receiving Warfarin. Even patients stabilized on their dose for a long period of time may be at risk when they are admitted to the hospital. Many medications given in the hospital may affect the way patients react to Warfarin. Review of current INR results is required prior to administration of Warfarin. Cerner now requires that an INR value in an acceptable range be entered in the system prior to administration as an additional safety check. Standardized orders for Warfarin and heparin are available for use. Our pharmacists review the use of anticoagulant medications. Maintain and communicate accurate patient medication information. Medication discrepancies can significantly impact the safety of our patients. Medication reconciliation is intended to identify and resolve discrepancies—it is a process of comparing the medications a patient is taking (and should be taking) with newly ordered medications. •A list of the patient’s current medication information should be obtained when admitted to the hospital or is seen in an outpatient setting •The list should be documented in the medical record. •Home medication information is compared to the medications provided while in the care of the organization. •Any discrepancy should be resolved. •The patient (or family as needed) should be provided with written information about medications which should be taken upon discharge from the facility or at the end of an outpatient encounter. •Patients are encouraged to maintain an accurate medication list and to communicate any changes to all providers of care. Goal 6: Reduce the harm associated with clinical alarm systems. Improve the safety of clinical alarm systems. Medical equipment and devices require the use of alarms to alert staff in a healthcare setting of potential issues occurring with patients and equipment. These alarms are necessary and assist staff in providing safe care for patients. Alarm fatigue has become one of the most difficult issues to manage in a healthcare setting. Finding the perfect balance of alarms requiring clinical intervention (actionable alarms), while minimizing the alarms which do not require clinical intervention (non-actionable alarms), is key to providing appropriate care for patients. Over time, clinicians may become desensitized, overwhelmed, and even immune to the sound of an alarm. When certain medical devices constantly alert staff, they may react to the alarms by turning down the volume, turning off the alarm, or adjusting the alarm settings. Actions such as these may have very serious or even fatal consequences. Hospitals are placing heightened awareness on the management of clinical alarms. The Alarm Management Committee is making strides to appropriately minimize the nonactionable alarms. The Committee reviews and assess the alarm data and begin the task of determining which alarms may be safely eliminated or adjusted. The goal is to decrease the number of non-actionable alarms and to improve the quality of actionable alarms, making the alarms more meaningful. Sources: Retrieved from the following on 7/22/15 http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/SEA_50_ alarms_4_5_13_FINAL1.PDF http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/medical_ device_alarm_safety_infographic.pdf Goal 7: Reduce the risk of health care–associated infections. Hand Hygiene Information regarding this NPSG is included in the “Infection Prevention and Control” section. Prevent hospital acquired infections related to Multidrug-resistant Organisms (MDRO) Multidrug-Resistant Organisms are one of the most common causes of health care-associated infections. MDROs are organisms that have become resistant to many antibiotics commonly used to treat them. Proper hand hygiene, and standard and transmission-driven precautions are essential in preventing the transmission of MDROs. MICU and SICU take special precautions to prevent the transmission of MDROs. Patients admitted to MICU and SICU who meet certain criteria are screened for MRSA and Acinetobacter as applicable. Screening helps identify patients who may be infected or colonized with such organisms. The patients who are deemed high risk are preemptively placed in isolation until culture results are available. In addition, any patient in the hospital who is diagnosed with an MDRO will also be placed in isolation. Aultman uses a method to alert staff of patients who culture positive during a current admission or who re-enter the hospital system with a history of an MDRO. These patients are identified by a two-letter code. The following codes may be used alone or in combination for patients with more than one organism. •CM: (MRSA) Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus •CV: (VRE) Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus 13 2015 NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY GOALS •CD: (C. diff) Clostridium difficile •CE: (ESBL) Extended-spectrum beta lactamase (Enzyme produced by certain bacteria that can break down several types of antibiotics, rendering them ineffective) •CA: Acinetobacter baumannii haemolyticus •CR: (CRE) Carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae The below information is used by clinical staff to determine if a patient is still colonized and/or infected with the organism: •Place the patient in preemptive isolation precautions *See below for the exception for C. diff. •Attempt to determine when the patient was colonized/ infected with the specific organism. This is done by reviewing patient lab testing. If you are unable to determine when the patient had a positive result, please contact Infection Prevention during normal weekday business hours. After hours or on weekends or holidays, you may contact the Microbiology lab to assist you. •Once the information regarding the positive result is known, notify the physician. The physician will determine if the patient has cleared the organism. This may be done via clinical correlation and/or testing. •Each positive result requires a predetermined amount of testing that should be conducted to determine the patient no longer has the organism. Please see the following policy for specific timeframes and testing that should be conducted. https://policies.aultman.com/ dotNet/documents/?docid=5513&mode=view •The physician may place an order to discontinue the isolation once he/she has determined the patient no longer is infected and/or colonized with the organism. •Physicians should order the removal of the specific code that has been ruled out. •Contact LAB personnel to remove code at extension 33498. *NOTE: Regarding patients readmitted with codes for C. diff (CD): Absence of clinical symptoms (diarrhea) is all that is required to request a code removal order from the physician. Isolation is not required in this circumstance. Infection Prevention & Control monitors multidrugresistant organisms (MDROs) and health care-associated infections throughout the organization. Here are just a few ways everyone can assist in the prevention of these types of infections. •Always follow proper hand hygiene. •Observe all isolation protocols (standard and transmission-driven precautions) by using personal protective equipment (PPE) as indicated. •Clean and disinfect equipment or items that have been used. Isolation Reminders Another important component of infection prevention and control is the practice of transmission-driven isolation precautions. These precautions are used in addition to 14 standard precautions and are for patients who are known or suspected to be infected or colonized with, certain infectious agents. All health care workers are required to adhere to isolation practices as per the Infection Prevention and Control Policies and Procedures. Transmission-based isolation categories correspond with how the specific diseases are transmitted. Aultman uses 3 transmission-based isolation categories. Visual cues at the bottom of each sign indicate the required PPE prior to room entry. REMINDER: Isolation signage is not to be removed upon discharge or transfer between units. •Signage must remain on the doorway until the room has been cleaned and disinfected by Housekeeping. •Housekeeping will return the signage to the charge nurse to be discarded. Special Isolation Signage for C.difficile and Norovirus Signage for C.difficile and Norovirus is different than regular stringent contact signage. These two diseases require the room to be double cleaned and disinfected upon discharge. Hand washing must also be performed with soap and water. Purell is not to be used after contact with a patient/environment with one of these diseases. Please use the alternative signage, and remember to place the smaller sign on the Purell dispenser in the patient’s room. 2015 NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY GOALS Stringent Contact Signage C.diff and Norovirus Signage Purell Dispenser Signage Regular Stringent Contact Signage Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Proper use of PPE is essential to prevent the transmission of infections to patients and staff. •All PPE should be donned prior to entry and removed prior to leaving an isolation room. •Visual cues on isolation signage indicate required PPE. •Additional PPE may be indicated based on Standard Precautions. (i.e., mask and eye protection may be necessary in Stringent Contact Precautions if there is a risk of splash, spray or aerosolization.) •If you cover your mouth and nose with a mask, YOU MUST WEAR EYE PROTECTION. If you have any questions about isolation, please feel free to contact the Infection Prevention and Control office at ext. 34815. Prevent hospital-acquired infections related to central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). Central lines are intravenous catheters commonly placed into a large vein, usually in the neck, chest, arm, or groin, to provide fluids or medications to patients. Central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) are infections that can occur from the placement and use of a central line. CLABSIs are among the most deadly healthcare acquired infections, with a reported mortality rate of 12-25%. Consistently following hospital policy for insertion and maintenance of central lines can help prevent CLABSI. Clinical staff must follow the hospital policy for the insertion and maintenance of central lines which includes some of the following infection prevention strategies: Provide EDUCATION to patients, and their families as needed, their families about ways they can help prevent line associated bloodstream infections. This should be done both prior to insertion of a central line, and as needed, while one is in place. Promote proper insertion techniques as stated in the Central Line Insertion Policy and Checklist. All participants are empowered to IMMEDIATELY stop the procedure if any of the steps are not followed. Chlorhexidine-based antiseptic for skin preparation should be used during insertion and dressing changes (Use for patients over 2 months of age, unless contraindicated). Perform Hand hygiene prior to manipulation of the catheter. Disinfect the ports before accessing the line (“Scrub the Hub”). Alcohol-based port protector caps should be in place on ALL access ports of a central line. Change dressing every 7 days, and as needed. Change NEEDLESS CAPS every 96 hours with tubing changes, or when blood is visible in the cap. Evaluate the site for infection frequently. Review daily (with physician) the necessity of the line. Removal of nonessential catheters helps prevent infection. The Infection Prevention & Control department reviews all suspect cases of CLABSI. When cases are identified, Unit Directors are notified and an additional review of each case is completed. This information is presented to the CLABSI Committee to determine if there are additional opportunities for improvements to our current practice. Prevent hospital-acquired infections related to surgical site infections (SSI) Aultman follows evidence based practice guidelines for the prevention of SSIs. Following the appropriate guidelines decreases the risk of surgical site infections for patients. Close monitoring of targeted surgical site infections helps to quickly identify any areas of concern and assists in identifying opportunities for improvements. The following are a few strategies to help prevent surgical site infections: •Optimization of a patient prior to surgery (healthy skin condition, no illness, resolution of potential issues which may impact the outcome of surgery, i.e. MRSA colonization). •Proper pre-operative patient and/or family education. •Patient to shower with antimicrobial soap (i.e., chlorhexidine gluconate [CHG] based product) the night before and the morning of surgery. •Application of CHG-impregnated cloth to area of surgical procedure. •Appropriate hair removal—Clipping instead of shaving. •Appropriate skin antisepsis at the time of surgery. •Appropriate antibiotic selection and timing (administered within one hour prior to surgical incision). •Post-operative education to patient and family regarding ways to prevent infection such as hand hygiene, surgical incision/wound care, and dressing changes. 15 2015 NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY GOALS Prevent hospital-acquired infections related to catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) A urinary catheter is a tube inserted into the bladder through the urethra to drain urine. Patients who have urinary catheters inserted and used for a prolonged period of time are at in increased risk of developing a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). The following are a few of the evidenced-based guidelines clinical staff members use to decrease the risk of CAUTI. •Educate patients about prevention of CAUTI •Evaluate need for catheter daily. o Limit catheter use to those necessary for patient care. o Remove catheter as soon as it is no longer needed. •Proper hand hygiene performed prior to contact with catheters. •Use aseptic technique for site preparation/insertion. •Maintain sterility of equipment and supplies. o Use soap and water to cleanse the catheter insertion area (urethra) prior to antiseptic use and insertion of a catheter. •Use catheter securement devices to prevent obstructed urine flow and drainage. •Maintain a closed urine collection system. •Replace catheter system as needed. •Daily Catheter Care done with soap and water and as needed. o Proper technique= SOAP&WATER-WASH-RINSE-DRY. o Do not use other products for catheter care. Universal Protocol Universal Protocol is a process that was established to assist in the prevention of wrong site surgeries. Universal Protocol should be used for operative and other invasive procedures that expose patients to more than minimal risk. These may include procedures performed in settings other than the operating room such as a special procedures unit, endoscopy units, at the bedside or interventional radiology suites. A pre-procedure VERIFICATION process should be done to establish the correct procedure, patient and surgical site. The procedure site should be MARKED PRIOR to the procedure by the licensed independent practitioner who is ultimately accountable for the procedure and will be present when the procedure is performed. This should occur with the patient’s involvement when possible. A “TIME-OUT” is performed to provide a final verification of the correct patient, procedure and site. The “TIME-OUT” should be performed in the room immediately before the start of the surgery/procedure with all team members actively involved. All activities should be suspended during the TIME-OUT, unless doing so will compromise safety. ALL team members must agree on the correct patient identity, the correct site and procedure to be done. Goal 15: The hospital identifies safety risks inherent in its patient population Aultman identifies patients at risk for suicide by completing a brief risk assessment on all patients. All admitted patients are asked “Do you have any thoughts of harming yourself or others?” A more in-depth risk assessment is conducted and interventions are made if a patient answers yes to this question. Identified patients are also provided with follow-up resources upon discharge. ANNUAL SAFETY EDUCATION 2015 ACCREDITING BODIES For any patient care or safety issue an employee feels is not being addressed by management, please notify the Compliance Office at ext. 33380. If an employee feels that the issues are still not being addressed, employees can call The Joint Commission anonymously at 1-800-994-6610 or email [email protected]. Employees can also contact the Ohio Department of Health anonymously at 1-800-347-0553. 16 ALARM SAFETY RIGHT TO MEANINGFUL KNOWLEDGE Alarm fatigue is a nationally recognized trend. In addition to issuing a sentinel event alert on alarm management, The Joint Commission has also established a National Patient Safety Goal that was effective in 2014. Aultman believes patients have the right to receive information about their care – including test outcomes, medical treatments and intervention whether results are positive, negative, expected or unexpected. Refer to the Patient’s Rights and Responsibility Policy. Many medical devices have alarm systems to alert staff of potential patient safety issues. These alarm-equipped devices are essential to providing safe care to patients in many health care settings. Clinicians depend on these devices for information they need to deliver appropriate care and to guide treatment decisions. However, these devices present a multitude of challenges for health care organizations. PATIENT RIGHTS “Your Rights as a Patient" are included in the “Guide to Patient and Visitor Services” and are available to all patients upon admission. The Patient’s Rights Policy states: “No person shall be denied access to treatment or accommodations that are available and medically indicated, on the basis of such considerations as race, color, creed, national origin, diagnosis or the nature of the source of the payment for his/her care.” Refer to the Patient’s Rights and Responsibility Policy. FALLS ASSESSMENT It is every employee’s responsibility to promote patient safety by identifying patients at risk for falling. As patients are identified as high risk for falls, a yellow magnet is placed on the door frame of the room and a yellow wristband is placed on the patient. Yellow nonskid slippers are also given to the patient to wear whenever getting out of bed. Patients may also have a chair alarm or bed alarm. These identifiers are implemented as a communication tool, so every employee is able to identify the patient at risk and intervene to prevent a potential fall. If you observe a potential fall situation, notify a staff member immediately or pull the emergency cord in the bathroom if you feel it is unsafe to leave the patient. Research shows that the number of alarm signals per patient per day can reach several hundred, depending on the unit within the hospital, translating to thousands of alarm signals on every unit and tens of thousands of alarm signals throughout a hospital every day. It is estimated that between 85 and 99 percent of alarm signals do not require clinical intervention. As a result, clinicians may become desensitized or immune to the sounds and are overwhelmed by information – in short, they suffer from “alarm fatigue.” Some factors that contribute to alarm-related sentinel events include: • Improper alarm settings. • Alarm signals not audible in all areas. • Alarm signals inappropriately turned off. • Alarm settings that are not customized to the individual patient or patient population. • Alarm conditions and settings that are not integrated with other medical devices. • Equipment malfunctions and failures (this includes failures due to weak/dead batteries). At Aultman, an Alarm Management Team has been developed to assess our environment. Our brains are wired to listen for red (critical) alarms that typically require immediate attention. It is important to keep in mind that the blue (noncritical) alarms such as the “leads off” alarm can be equally as critical. These patients are essentially non-monitored until the leads are addressed. In these cases, a critical alarm could be missed. Low battery alarms can quickly turn into dead batteries. Batteries should be changed in a timely manner when low. Help do your part in keeping our patients safe by remaining attentive to alarms. MEDICAL DEVICES AND PATIENT SAFETY Medical device reporting (MDR) is the mechanism for the FDA to receive significant medical device adverse events or malfunctions from manufacturers and health care providers – such as hospitals – so they can be detected and corrected quickly. Risk Management submits these reports to the FDA on behalf of Aultman. Aultman is required to report any medical device that contributes to the death or serious injury or illness of a patient. Additionally, Aultman reports device malfunctions. A “malfunction” is defined by the FDA as “the failure of device to meet its performance specifications or otherwise perform as intended.” If a medical device fails to work before or during use, an employee or the employee’s manager must report such malfunction to Risk Management. What should an employee do if an event involving a medical device occurs? An employee must document the event of harm or injury involving a medical device factually in the patient’s medical record and complete a variance report. The variance report should include the make, model, lot number, serial number and manufacturer of the medical device, along with a description of the event. If possible, the employee must not discard the medical device or return it to the company without approval from Risk Management. A medical device that is involved in an event will be evaluated by, and sequestered, in Risk Management. 17 RESTRAINTS Restraint is any manual method, physical or mechanical device, or material or equipment, that immobilizes or reduces the ability of a patient to move his or her arms, legs, body or head freely. These types of restraints include bed rails, geriatric chairs, soft restraints and nylon restraints. A chemical restraint is a drug or medication when it is used as a restriction to manage the patient’s behavior or restrict the patient’s freedom of movement and is not a standard treatment or dosage for the patient’s condition. RESTRAINT ORDERS A physician must see the person in restraints for violent/ self-destructive behavior within one hour of restraints being used or within 24 hours for mechanical restraints. The attending physician performs an in-person assessment of the restrained patient and reorders or discontinues restraint once every calendar day. RESTRAINT ALTERNATIVES Alternatives include, but are not limited to, the following: Diversional activity – TV; videos; music therapy; audio tapes and player; relaxation tapes and techniques; small jobs the patient enjoys and agrees to attempt (i.e., folding washcloths). Verbal interaction – speak in a clear, calm voice; frequently orient/reorient to person, place and setting; offer support and encouragement; promote interpersonal communication; reinforce safety. Nonverbal interaction – approach in a calm, slow, nonthreatening manner; smile; listen attentively allowing time for comments, concerns or questions (answer any and all questions in a timely manner). Supervision – move patient close to nurse’s station; frequent room checks; encourage family to stay/sit with patient; bed alert, if applicable. Exercise/ambulation – passive/active ROM; up in chair; ambulate in room or hallway, with assist if necessary. Allow to wander in supervised area. Comfort measures – frequent position changes; pain management; pillows and other positioning aides; eliminate unnecessary tubes/lines; toileting schedule; offer snacks and warm beverages; if possible, provide companionship (i.e., a volunteer). Modify environment – reduce sensory stimulation; provide a structured environment; appropriate lighting; keep free of clutter; encourage family to bring in limited personal possessions such as family photos or items familiar to the patient. Promote reality – TV or newspaper; open window curtains; leave door to room open; familiarize patient to surroundings. If options fail and restraints must be used, the leastrestrictive method of restraint should be chosen. The patient’s rights, privacy and protection, dignity, autonomy and physical/psychological well-being are always to be considered. Refer to Restraint and Seclusion Policy. 18 PA I N Aultman is committed to the management of the patient’s pain. Pain is physical: disease, injury and infection cause much of the tissue and nerve damage responsible for pain. Pain is also emotional – and factors such as stress, anxiety, trauma and depression can play a role in a person’s suffering. The management of pain involves all caregivers as well as the patient and his or her family. Proper management promotes a satisfying treatment experience, speeds a patient’s recovery and controls health care costs. Patients view pain differently, and their actions may not reflect the behavior expected for a certain level of pain. Two patients with the same injury or surgery can experience very different levels of pain. Some pain has no clear cause, but it’s no less real for the person who is suffering. Pain should be rated by the patient, not the clinician. Pain is measured using a rating scale. One of the most commonly used scales is pictured below. Caregivers are responsible for using the appropriate scale when assessing their patients for pain. The patient should be asked to rate his or her pain during the first exam, a minimum of once each shift, an hour after any intervention (medication or other) and after potentially pain-producing procedures. It is also important to ask the patient what level of pain he/she is able to tolerate. Notify the physician if the patient’s pain rating continues to be above a tolerable level after two consecutive interventions. Clinicians should recognize that words such as “ache” or “sore” may be substituted for the word “pain.” Children and infants experience pain, too – and special tools such as face charts and the newborn pain scale may be needed to help children communicate their pain. Patients who are unable to think or speak well may communicate their pain by nonverbal cues such as grimaces, moaning or restlessness. Pain may be managed by simply repositioning a patient. If you are unable to help in a way that relieves pain, always notify a caregiver who can help. REMEMBER: Managing pain is everyone’s responsibility! EARLY HEART ATTACK CARE (EHAC) AND ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME (ACS) We as the Aultman Team need to gain knowledge and act when appropriate as soon as we come upon a patient, visitor or fellow co-worker with complaints of symptoms that may represent a heart attack otherwise known as Acute Coronary syndrome (ACS). Knowledge of Early Heart Attack Care (EHAC) and Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is key to improving outcomes for our community. FACTS •For 50 percent of people experiencing early symptoms of a heart attack, the heart attack could be prevented with early treatment. •There are 380,000 deaths annually from heart attacks, and half of these deaths occur before reaching the hospital. •Every 34 seconds, an American will have a coronary event - and someone will die every minute. The goal of EHAC is to educate everyone on the early symptoms of a heart attack in order to prevent a heart attack. It also makes the public responsible to obtain immediate treatment for themselves or someone they see experiencing these symptoms. There are clear benefits of early treatment and activating the emergency medical service. Early recognition of ACS symptoms decreases the time to treatment which is critical in the early stages of a heart attack. If you are experiencing a heart attack, actual muscle cells are dying. The sooner treatment is received, the less damage occurs to your heart. The less damage to your heart, the better the outcomes. TIME IS MUSCLE! Heart attack signs include: •Chest pressure, squeezing or discomfort (heartburn or indigestion). •Discomfort down one or both arms, the back, shoulder, jaw. •Shortness of breath with or without pain. •Fatigue. •Lightheaded or dizziness. •Nausea, vomiting, fullness. •Ventricular arrhythmias. •Breaking out in cold sweat. Atypical symptoms (especially in women): •Pain in back or shoulder blades. •Fainting. •Confusion. •Sleep problems. •Unusual feeling of fatigue or weakness. •Indigestion. •Feeling of doom. If you think you or someone you know is experiencing a heart attack, act immediately! •Don’t wait! Quick treatment may save a life. •If at home or off hospital campus, call 911. •Call the Rapid Response Team for patients at ext. 36888. •Call a Medical Assist for visitors at ext. 36777. STROKE SAFETY Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death, behind heart disease, cancer, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. Each year, about 795,000 people suffer a stroke. On average, someone in the United States suffers a stroke every 45 seconds and every three minutes, someone dies of a stroke. Risk factors for stroke that can be controlled or treated include high blood pressure, carotid artery disease, atrial fibrillation, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol use and physical inactivity. Other risk factors that cannot be changed include family history, gender (strokes are more common in men than women), increasing age, prior stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and African-American race. STROKE IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY Know these warning signs of stroke and teach them to others: •Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. •Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. •Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. •Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. •Sudden, severe headache with no known cause. Many stroke patients have no idea they are having a stroke because brain cells are dying, which can affect judgment. Recognizing when stroke is occurring and reacting FAST to get lifesaving treatment can save lives. FACE – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? ARMS – Ask the person to hold both arms up evenly. Does one arm drift downward? SPEECH – Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are his or her words slurred or mixed up? TIME – If the person shows any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical attention. Brain cells are dying. If a patient is experiencing these acute signs and symptoms, activate the Rapid Response Team by calling ext. 36888. Call a Medical Assist at ext. 36777 if a visitor or employee is having any of these signs or symptoms. Every second counts! 19 PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY C O R P O R AT E C O M P L I A N C E Aultman has served our community since 1892 with a reputation for excellence and integrity. The Aultman Compliance Program was established to support our commitment to the highest standards of conduct, honesty, and integrity in our business practices. Compliance is all about doing the right things for the right reasons. Our Corporate Compliance Program is a formal program that supports Aultman’s commitment to following policies and standards of conduct so that we are in compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations as well as Aultman’s policies and ethical standards. The Corporate Compliance Program: •Demonstrates our good-faith effort to comply with federal health care program requirements. •Establishes procedures to prevent, detect and correct noncompliance. •Provides a method for employees to report potential problems. •Serves as a resource to resolve compliance issues. Compliance affects everyone. As an Aultman employee, you are expected to: •Carry out your job duties with integrity and honesty. •Learn and understand what laws and regulations apply to your specific job function and level of responsibility. •Exercise good judgment and do the right thing when performing your job duties. •Report suspected compliance concerns or problems. Employees should report concerns or problems to their manager, the Compliance Officer or the Aultman Compliance Line at 1-866-907-6901. Employees reporting compliance concerns in good faith will not be subject to retribution or discipline. Aultman maintains the privacy and confidentiality of personal and medical information entrusted to us by patients and others. As an Aultman employee, you are required to: •Protect the confidentiality and privacy of patient information, customer information, employees’ information and other proprietary information by complying with the federal laws, the HIPAA Privacy and Security regulations, state laws and accreditation standards. •Only access, use or disclose medical, clinical, employee and business information when such use or disclosure is supported by a legitimate clinical or business purpose and is in compliance with Aultman’s policies and procedures, applicable laws, rules and regulations. •Only access your own health care information or the health care information of your friends and families through the Medical Records department and with written authorization. •Refrain from discussing patient, employee, customer or business information in any public area, including elevators, stairwells, restrooms, lobbies and dining areas. •Safeguard all confidential and proprietary information by maintaining documents in secure areas and not sharing access codes or passwords. •Protect Electronic Health Information by using a unique user ID and password to access electronic devices and systems. User IDs and passwords should not be shared with anyone. Employees with privacy questions or concerns may contact the Compliance Office at ext. 33380 or email [email protected]. ABUSE/NEGLECT It is the responsibility of all health care workers to recognize, treat and protect any patient who may be the victim of abuse, neglect or exploitation. Ohio law states that any health care professional – working within the scope of his/her professional capacity and who has reasonable cause to believe a patient is being abused, neglected or exploited – shall report the situation immediately to the proper authority. Abuse, neglect or exploitation has been identified by Aultman to include, but not be limited to, the following: •Abuse, neglect or exploitation of a child. •Abuse, neglect or exploitation of a mentally or developmentally disabled person. •Abuse, neglect or exploitation of a compromised adult age 60 or older. •Domestic violence. Health care workers having knowledge or reasonable cause who report abuse/neglect cases in good faith are protected from civil or criminal liability related to the investigation, report or testimony. Failure to report known or suspected abuse may result in civil liability. If any cases of abuse are suspected, notify your supervisor and consult the appropriate abuse/neglect policies for proper reporting methods. 20