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Infection Control Resources and Practices in Maryland, 2003
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Vol. 32 No. 3
LESSONS LEANED: ICPs may be unaware of patient equipment used on animals. Researchers may ‘‘borrow’’ equipment without management knowledge. Institutions need policies for patient and employee protection.
Infection Control Resources and Practices in Maryland, 2003 BJ Roup* J Roche M Pass E Kalp Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore, Maryland The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
ISSUE: In January 2003, the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) surveyed, for the first time, all acute-care facilities (ACFs) and long-term-care facilities (LTCFs) in the state to determine the current state of infection control resources and practices in Maryland. PROJECT: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to all 48 ACFs and 248 LTCFs. The questions asked about 1) infection control resources, such as staffing, infection control educational preparation, and administrative support and 2) infection control practices, such as outbreak management, isolation capability, and emergency preparedness. The senior infection control professional (ICP) in the facility completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rates were 85% for ACFs and 44% for LTCFs. Data were analyzed separately for each type of facility. The ICPs in acute care reported 1.2 full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) for each 200 ACF beds, while ICPs in LTCFs reported 0.36 FTEs per 200 LTCF beds. The greatest disparity was noted between ACFs and LTCFs in infection control educational preparation of ICPs. Ninety percent of acute-care ICPs reported taking some type of basic infection control course, while only 3% of long-term-care ICPs reported taking a basic infection control course. LESSONS LEARNED: In this survey of ICPs in Maryland, striking differences were noted between ACFs and LTCFs in the ratio of ICP FTEs to beds and in basic infection control educational preparation for ICPs. DHMH will further assess the impact of these findings on infection control effectiveness and quality of patient care in Maryland.
Running Over the Flu Bug in a ‘‘Drive Thru’’ Vaccination Clinic K Bryson* K Owensby Park Ridge Hospital, Fletcher, North Carolina
ISSUE: Influenza causes approximately 115,000 acute-care hospitalizations and kills an average of 36,000 people annually. The highest death rates are usually among the elderly and those with serious chronic illnesses. In communities with large numbers of high-risk populations, healthcare organizations should strive to be active participants in mass immunization efforts. ‘‘Drive thru’’ flu vaccination clinics are popular and attract large numbers of people. PROJECT: As a part of Park Ridge Hospital’s mission to meet community health needs and focus on disease prevention, the hospital conducts an annual flu vaccine ‘‘drive thru’’ without charging a fee to any participant and without filing for reimbursement. Planning for the event is very laborious, including the following: advertising, tent rentals, table and chair rentals, traffic patterns, flu shot information phone line, police assistance, nurse and
Vol. 32 No. 3
LESSONS LEANED: ICPs may be unaware of patient equipment used on animals. Researchers may ‘‘borrow’’ equipment without management knowledge. Institutions need policies for patient and employee protection.
Infection Control Resources and Practices in Maryland, 2003 BJ Roup* J Roche M Pass E Kalp Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore, Maryland The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
ISSUE: In January 2003, the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) surveyed, for the first time, all acute-care facilities (ACFs) and long-term-care facilities (LTCFs) in the state to determine the current state of infection control resources and practices in Maryland. PROJECT: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to all 48 ACFs and 248 LTCFs. The questions asked about 1) infection control resources, such as staffing, infection control educational preparation, and administrative support and 2) infection control practices, such as outbreak management, isolation capability, and emergency preparedness. The senior infection control professional (ICP) in the facility completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rates were 85% for ACFs and 44% for LTCFs. Data were analyzed separately for each type of facility. The ICPs in acute care reported 1.2 full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) for each 200 ACF beds, while ICPs in LTCFs reported 0.36 FTEs per 200 LTCF beds. The greatest disparity was noted between ACFs and LTCFs in infection control educational preparation of ICPs. Ninety percent of acute-care ICPs reported taking some type of basic infection control course, while only 3% of long-term-care ICPs reported taking a basic infection control course. LESSONS LEARNED: In this survey of ICPs in Maryland, striking differences were noted between ACFs and LTCFs in the ratio of ICP FTEs to beds and in basic infection control educational preparation for ICPs. DHMH will further assess the impact of these findings on infection control effectiveness and quality of patient care in Maryland.
Running Over the Flu Bug in a ‘‘Drive Thru’’ Vaccination Clinic K Bryson* K Owensby Park Ridge Hospital, Fletcher, North Carolina
ISSUE: Influenza causes approximately 115,000 acute-care hospitalizations and kills an average of 36,000 people annually. The highest death rates are usually among the elderly and those with serious chronic illnesses. In communities with large numbers of high-risk populations, healthcare organizations should strive to be active participants in mass immunization efforts. ‘‘Drive thru’’ flu vaccination clinics are popular and attract large numbers of people. PROJECT: As a part of Park Ridge Hospital’s mission to meet community health needs and focus on disease prevention, the hospital conducts an annual flu vaccine ‘‘drive thru’’ without charging a fee to any participant and without filing for reimbursement. Planning for the event is very laborious, including the following: advertising, tent rentals, table and chair rentals, traffic patterns, flu shot information phone line, police assistance, nurse and