CAH / RURAL HOSPITAL / EMS / CLINIC

Policy / Procedure Manual

Subject: DISASTER – CONTAGEON PREVENTION in EPIDEMIC / PANDEMIC

Department: Housewide - NursingCouncil: Nursing Standards

Effective Date: __ / __ / __Review: __ / __ / __ (yearly)

Approved By: Chief Nursing Officer / Chief of Staff / Director of Patient Care

POLICY STATEMENT:

It shall be the policy of [ THIS HOSPITAL ] that universal precautions be the standard of care in this facility and that simple precautions be taken to mitigate the spread of contageon in the facility

PURPOSE: The goal of CONTAGEON PREVENTION is to reduce the spread of pathogensto public and staff

PROCEDURE:

  1. Criteria for activating CONTAGEON PREVENTION beyond the normal practicve of good and prudent healthcare habits and universal precautions is when the community is experiencing higher levels of contageous disease, such as seasonal infuenza, viral and other pathogens including H1N1.
  1. ACTIVATE the CONTAGEON PREVENTION– Announce “Alert” “ Code Scarlet” – (give location if prudent) “ REPEAT 3 TIMES overhead, text message, pager.
  2. HANDWASHING – make sure that ;

Handwashing stations are filled and ready for use

Word of mouth to practice best handwashing between contacts

Word of mouth to cover cough

Word of mouth to check for fever if feeling ill

CALL don’t GO to your doctor initially unless you fear it is life threatening

Ask for Antiviral Medication if ill less than 48 hours (antivirals do not work after 48 hrs)

  1. COUGH – HALT the SPREAD – cough spreads disease through droplet dispersion for over 30 feet

Cover your cough with clothing, or cough into your shoulder.

Stay home if feeling ill

Clients and staff should wear a mask if sneezing or coughing at work

Weigh the consequences of going home over spreading the illness to others

HOME CARE should include;

  • SELF ISOLATION – limit the spread to others
  • Over the counter fever reducing medications.
  • Increasing fluid consumption
  • Treat with prescription medications under the care of your physician
  1. FEVER – Staff or Clients with fever are considered infectious to others

SUDDEN ONSET – Fever > 103 F

DO NOT RETURN TO WORK until your fever has subsided for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication such as acetamenophen or ibuprophen

FEVER – Staff or Clients with fever are considered infectious to others

SUDDEN ONSET – Body Aches, malaise, weakness, dizziness, lethargy

SIMILAR SYMPTOMS – spreading rapidly in a normally well demograghic of the population. Young children and young adults, in addition to the usual group of ill people you provide care to.

  1. PATIENT CARE AREA DECONTAMINATION -

GLOVES – when cleaning, wash hands after glove removal

Bleach solution 5% or other approved sanitizing solution to all surfaces

  1. ALL CLEAR – Determened by Local Health Department – Documentillness with lost work time
  2. RECOVERY – Work with your local health department to strengthen this protocol for future outbreaks