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Snap judgment What is it?
MINDING
HERRICK AND LOOS
EVALUATION
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
There are several aduuntugesto an infection control system as described. An infection control committee brings a variety of staff with expertise to the program and distributes the work over a larger number of people. This eliminates the necessity to hire or designate one individual or department to carry out the infection control function (Table). The system also has potential disadvantages. A committee structure takes more coordination because a variety of departments and staff are involved. It may require additional time for the chairperson, who already has clinical management responsibilities. A committee approach can be more costly unless care is taken to ensure compact committee composition, effective meetings, and appropriate delegation of responsibilities. This is one approach to solving the difficult task of designing and implementing an infection control program in the home care setting that meets the challenges presented. It controls infections and improves practice. Although this approach works for us, each agency must consider the resources it has available, as well as the
OUR BUSINESS
required components, when designing an effective infection control program for home care. REFERENCES I. White MC, Smith W. Infection control in home care agencies. Am ] Infect Control 1993;21:146-50. 2. Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association. Home care in the 1990s. JAMA 1990;263:1241-4. 3. White MC. Infections and infection risks in home care settings. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1992;13:535-9. 4. Rosenheimer 1. Establishing a surveillance system for infections acquired in home healthcare. Home Healthcare Nurse 199S;l3(3):20-6. 5. Mayes J, Carter C, Adams JE. lnotropic therapy in the home care setting. J Intravenous Nurs 1995;18:301-6. 6. OSHA instruction CPL2 2.446. Washington, DC: Office of Health Compliance Assistance, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 1990. 7. State of California. Blood borne pathogens. General Industry Safety Orders, Section 5193, Title 8, California Code of Regulations, January 1993. 8. Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Safety management and infection control. In: Standards for the accreditation of home care. Chicago: Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, 1988:l I-2. 9. Presdorf RA. Infection control: regulatory impact on the home care setting. J Home Health Care Pratt 1993;6:60-8. Reprint no. 69/l/74419
What is it? This patient had a history of a “red varicose vein” and pain. This calf measured I inch larger than the other. Test your ubility to identify this corrdition. Answer
156
on page
HOME
15 8
CARE PROVIDER
MAY/JUNE
1996,
VOL.
1 NO. 3
HERRICK AND LOOS
EVALUATION
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
There are several aduuntugesto an infection control system as described. An infection control committee brings a variety of staff with expertise to the program and distributes the work over a larger number of people. This eliminates the necessity to hire or designate one individual or department to carry out the infection control function (Table). The system also has potential disadvantages. A committee structure takes more coordination because a variety of departments and staff are involved. It may require additional time for the chairperson, who already has clinical management responsibilities. A committee approach can be more costly unless care is taken to ensure compact committee composition, effective meetings, and appropriate delegation of responsibilities. This is one approach to solving the difficult task of designing and implementing an infection control program in the home care setting that meets the challenges presented. It controls infections and improves practice. Although this approach works for us, each agency must consider the resources it has available, as well as the
OUR BUSINESS
required components, when designing an effective infection control program for home care. REFERENCES I. White MC, Smith W. Infection control in home care agencies. Am ] Infect Control 1993;21:146-50. 2. Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association. Home care in the 1990s. JAMA 1990;263:1241-4. 3. White MC. Infections and infection risks in home care settings. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1992;13:535-9. 4. Rosenheimer 1. Establishing a surveillance system for infections acquired in home healthcare. Home Healthcare Nurse 199S;l3(3):20-6. 5. Mayes J, Carter C, Adams JE. lnotropic therapy in the home care setting. J Intravenous Nurs 1995;18:301-6. 6. OSHA instruction CPL2 2.446. Washington, DC: Office of Health Compliance Assistance, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 1990. 7. State of California. Blood borne pathogens. General Industry Safety Orders, Section 5193, Title 8, California Code of Regulations, January 1993. 8. Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Safety management and infection control. In: Standards for the accreditation of home care. Chicago: Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, 1988:l I-2. 9. Presdorf RA. Infection control: regulatory impact on the home care setting. J Home Health Care Pratt 1993;6:60-8. Reprint no. 69/l/74419
What is it? This patient had a history of a “red varicose vein” and pain. This calf measured I inch larger than the other. Test your ubility to identify this corrdition. Answer
156
on page
HOME
15 8
CARE PROVIDER
MAY/JUNE
1996,
VOL.
1 NO. 3