HIPPA: The New Security Rule and HITECH Act

A hospital in Michigan accidentally posts the medical records of thousands of patients on the internet. A health insurer loses the financial, health and personal information of 450,000 customers, and fails to notify them for six months. And two of the largest pharmacy chains in the U.S. are found discarding patient records and other legally-protected information in unsecured dumpsters.

This unnecessary exposure of private information should be alarming. In fact, since the creation of the HIPAA act, the Department of Health and Human Services has investigated approximately 8,000 legitimate complaints of privacy violations. These statistics are simply unacceptable.

As professionals who work in healthcare, how we protect personal health information is just as much a part of our jobs as the care we deliver.  At stake is not only the privacy of an individual’s care, but the security of personal information, which could be used for medical identity theft, and other illegal purposes. And as healthcare continues to adopt technology to coordinate patient care, such as electronic health records and computerized physician order entry, the need to protect electronic health information is becoming more and more important.

HIPAA is a federal law; so compliance is not voluntary – it’s mandatory. And ignorance of the law is no defense. In 2003 the Department of Health and Human Services began enforcing The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. Essentially, the HIPAA law:

• Protects the security and privacy of all medical records and other health information that is used or shared in any form, and
• Protects patient’s rights by giving them access to their health information and control over how it will be used.

Anyone that obtains or discloses protected health information for personal or commercial gain, for malicious purposes, or by willful neglect is subject to termination, suspension, and criminal and civil penalties – including jail time and fines ranging from $100 to $50,000 per violation. 

 In 2009, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act even more changes were made to the HIPAA privacy and security standards, including requirements for addressing breaches. The HITECH Act imposes notification requirements on covered entities, business associates, vendors of personal health records (PHR) and related entities in the event of certain security breaches relating to protected health information (PHI). The Final Rule of the HITECH Act became effective November 30, 2009.

Employees of healthcare facilities must be educated on HIPAA and the new security rules as it pertains to the HITECH Act, and the consequences of non-compliance.

See our video training program for healthcare facilities and staff, including Admissions, Administrative Staff, Lab Workers, and Healthcare Professionals on the front line.

“Privacy and Security: The New HIPAA Rule”: http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/privacy_security_the_new_hipaa_rule/

(It’s free to preview! Register and log in to watch the video, in it’s entirety)  The complete program includes the 15-minute video presentation as well as an in-depth Study Guide, 10-Question Post Test, and Tools: Action Plan for Compliance; Glossary of Terms; HIPAA Security Standards: Administrative, Physical and Technical Safeguards, and Organizational and Documentation Requirements.

HHS Awards $17 Million to Fight Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)

Health care-associated infections are on everyone’s mind these days and the costs related to HAIs continue to rise, adding $28 billion to $33 billion in unnecessary health care costs every year. To help combat these costs and dangerous patient care HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently announced the award of $17 million to fund projects to fight HAIs.

“When patients go to the hospital, they expect to get better, not worse,” Secretary Sebelius said. “Eliminating infections is critical to making care safer for patients and to improving the overall quality and safety of the health care system. We know that it can be done, and this new initiative will help us reach our goal.”

$8 million of the $17 million will fund a national expansion of the Keystone Project, a project started by Johns Hopkins University and the Michigan Health & Hospital Association to implement a “comprehensive unit-based safety program”. Within the first 18 months the program was successful in reducing the rate of central-line blood stream infections, CLA-BSIs, in more than 100 Michigan intensive care units, saving 1,500 lives and $200 million in healthcare facility costs.

The Keystone program involves:

• Utilizing a checklist of evidence-based safety practices;
• Staff training and other tools that can be implemented in hospital units for preventing infections;
• Standard and consistent measurement of infection rates; and
• Tools to improve teamwork among doctors, nurses and hospital leaders.

With additional funding from AHRQ and a private foundation, the Keystone Project is now operating in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The new funding will expand the effort to more hospitals, and settings in addition to ICUs, and broaden the focus to address other types of infections.

For more information and a complete list of the funding: http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/haify09.htm.

Envision Inc.’s Related Video Training programs:

“Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections” (CLA-BSI), http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/preventing_central_line_associated_bloodstream_infections_cla_bsi/

This program is in line with the recommendations, interventions and evidence-based practices promoted in the Keystone Project and is an excellent tool for those facilities following this initiative.

Presented in association with the AVA (Association for Vascular Access), this 15-minute training program includes an in-depth Study Guide, Post Test and Tools: Nursing Checklist for Central Venous Catheter Insertion, and the AVA’s SAVE that Line Poster and Reference Card.

Featuring renowned infectious disease expert Dennis Maki, MD, the program also comes with a Bonus Track Video with additional educational information. The training video features the latest evidence-based practice from the CDC and HICPAC / SHEA / IDSA / APIC recommendations for preventing central line-associated bloodstream infections.

“Infection Control 8-Minute Solution: MRSA”, http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/infection_control_8_minute_solution_series_mrsa/

“Clostridium difficile: A Growing Threat”, http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/clostridium_difficile_a_growing_threat/

Healthcare Practices to Prevent Respiratory Illness

A recent article in Infection Control Today reports that “Simple Hygienic Measures Can Help Prevent Respiratory Illness” – as confirmed by a new study in the British Medical Journal. Researchers looked at data from a number of sources and studies of physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses, such as: isolation, quarantine, social distancing, barriers, personal protection and hygiene.

British Medical Journal Researchers concluded that:  

• The spread of respiratory viruses can be prevented by hygienic measures in younger children and within households.
• Many simple and low-cost interventions reduce the transmission of epidemic respiratory viruses.

As a leader in healthcare education for over 20 years, Envision Inc. has several educational video training programs specifically designed for healthcare professionals, that cover practices that have been determined to prevent transmission of viruses, including:

“Hand Hygiene: Cleaning Up Our Act”:  Produced in association with APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) this program covers the CDC’s Hand Hygiene Guideline. The 18-minute video presentation is approved for 1.0 hours of Continuing Education and includes a Study Guide, Post Test and Tool: Recommendations for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings. (Hesca Award Winner)http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/hand_hygiene_cleaning_up_our_act/

“Infection Control 8-Minute Solution: Hand Hygiene”: Produced in association with APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology), this 10-minute video program gives all healthcare staff the training they need to increase hand hygiene adherence and concisely breaks down the components of the CDC’s Hand Hygiene Guideline including  use of alcohol-based waterless hand rubs, plain vs. antimicrobial soap, and surgical hand antisepsis. http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/infection_control_8_minute_solution_series_hand_hygiene/

“Infection Control 8-Minute Solution: Respiratory Etiquette”: Produced in association with APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology). Influenza, SARS and other emerging respiratory diseases are most likely transmitted by close person-to-person interaction with an infected individual – primarily through exposure to infectious respiratory secretions. This is why all staff must become aware of proper respiratory etiquette to prevent the spread of disease. http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/infection_control_8_minute_solution_series_respiratory_etiquette/

“Back to Basics: OSHA Fit testing for Particulate Respirators”: This 10-minute video program provides a quick and cost-effective way to train all staff who may be at risk from exposure to an infected individual – as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and to satisfy recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/back_to_basics_osha_fit_testing_for_particulate_respirators/

“Fighting Respiratory Diseases: Our Best Defense”: Produced in association with APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology), this 16-minute video program is designed to quickly and efficiently educate healthcare professionals on the CDC’s recommendations to identify practices which prevent the transmission of highly contagious respiratory diseases such as Influenza, Avian Flu, HMPV and RSV. http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/fighting_respiratory_diseases_our_best_defense/

“Of Critical Importance: The CDC Isolation Guidance Explained”: Produced in association with APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology). This concise 15-minute video training program features CDC HICPAC committee member Vicki L. Brinsko, RN, BA, and helps your staff understand and apply the CDC’s Isolation Guideline, including: New Standard Precautions, Application of Transmission-based Precautions, The Protective Environment, Discontinuation of Precautions, and Safe Work Practices. http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/of_critical_importance_the_new_cdc_isolation_guideline_explained/

“Infection Control for General Orientation: What You Need to Know”: This concise 15-minute program covers the mandatory infection control topics your staff needs to know, including: Bloodborne Pathogens, Hand Hygiene, Standard Precautions, Personal Protective Equipment, Isolation Precautions, TB, Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette, Safe Injection Practices and Protective Environment Category. http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/infection_control_for_general_orientation_what_you_need_to_know/

All of these excellent video training programs are available to preview, in their entirety, online by registering and logging in: www.EnvisionInc.net.

Infection Control Today article: http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/hotnews/simple-hygienic-measures-prevent-illness.html

H1N1 (Swine Flu) Training Is Vital for Healthcare Workers

For the first time in recent history, our healthcare community is faced with responding to apandemic. Novel H1N1 Influenza, also known as the Swine Flu, is caused by a virus that has not previously been identified in North America – yet in a very short amount of time, nearly every nation in the world has reported cases.

In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has instructed all healthcare facilities to prepare for the H1N1 pandemic virus in addition to the traditional influenza virus season. But because the H1N1 strain contains genes from four different flu viruses and it is a novel or new virus, existing vaccines for seasonal flu do not provide protection against this strain.  That is why preventing transmission is our primary goal in preparing for this pandemic.

Most transmission of respiratory diseases in the healthcare setting occurs from unprotected exposure to infected individuals before the disease is recognized and infection control measures put in place.  For this reason, it is imperative that all healthcare workers become familiar with the CDC, HICPAC, APIC and SHEA recommendations to quickly identify and isolate patients suspected to have novel H1N1 influenza, and know how to implement appropriate infection control practices to prevent transmission.

Our new video training program for healthcare staff, Preparing for a Pandemic: Preventing Transmission of H1N1 Influenza, highlights the CDC Guidance Recommendations for Healthcare Facilities on preventing transmission of the Novel H1N1 Virus and incorporates the latest recommendations from HICPAC, APIC and SHEA.  The clinical advisors for the program include nationally-known infection prevention experts Gail Bennett, RN, MSN, CIC, President of  ICP Associates, Inc. and Vicki Brinsko, RN, BA, BSN, CIC, Infection Prevention and Control Professional at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The complete video can be previewed on the Envision website, www.EnvisionInc.net, with registration. A preview clip from VodPod is here on the blog.

Included in the video: Modes of transmission of the Novel H1N1 virus, including:

• Droplet transmission, which occurs when a patient coughs or sneezes, sending infected droplets through the air. These droplets can then be deposited on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, or eyes of persons nearby.
• Direct contact with contaminated respiratory secretions; and
• Indirect contact with a surface or object contaminated by droplets, and then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes.

How to identify patients with suspected H1N1 influenza: Provide a visual alert outside the entrance of the facility, requiring patients with respiratory problems to inform personnel of symptoms upon their arrival, and asking all visitors with symptoms of H1N1 infection not to enter, or to wear a surgical mask while in the building.  Admitting personnel completing paperwork could stay behind a barrier to protect themselves from potentially infectious droplets.

How to isolate patients with suspected H1N1 influenza:

At the first point of contact with a patient with symptoms of respiratory infection, ask the patient to practice respiratory hygiene or cough etiquette by using tissues whenever coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose, and disposing of tissues in specified containers. 

When there are increased periods of respiratory infection in the community, you may choose to provide surgical masks for all patients with symptoms of febrile respiratory illness and family or friends that accompany them. Encourage patients to wash their hands or use alcohol-based hand rubs after contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects or materials.

Arrange waiting rooms so that patients with symptoms of respiratory infection can be seated at least three feet from patients who do not have symptoms.  As soon as possible, move patients with symptoms of respiratory infection to a private room for further evaluation, and keep the door closed.

Triage personnel should wear appropriate personal protective equipment when assessing patients with febrile respiratory illness, meaning the patient has respiratory illness with fever. 

Screening for H1N1: If your state and local health departments report no novel H1N1 transmission occurring in your community, you should only screen a patient for novel H1N1 if:

• The patient has symptoms of respiratory illness with fever, and
• There has been, within the last 7 days, close contact with a person who is confirmed, probable or suspected of having novel H1N1 infection, or
• The patient has traveled to a community in the US or abroad within 7 days where there are one or more confirmed cases.

Preparing for a Pandemic: Preventing Transmission of H1N1 Influenza, includes many more protocols for screening and isolating patients, protecting the healthcare staff from infection, specifics on Standard Precautions and Droplet Precautions as recommended by APIC, SHEA and the HICPAC Working Group. The program also addresses the more stringent CDC recommendations which include Contact Precautions along with eye protection and an N95 or higher respirator.

In conclusion: Infection prevention and control are always important in a healthcare setting. But a pandemic requires all healthcare providers to be especially alert. Learn how to quickly identify and isolate patients with suspected or confirmed H1N1 infection, and know how to implement appropriate strict infection control practices to prevent transmission.

Preparing for a Pandemic: Preventing Transmission of H1N1 Influenza: http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/preparing_for_a_pandemic_preventing_transmission_of_novel_h1n1_influenza/

Infection Control in Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Nowadays, it seems that infection control is on everyone’s minds, and rightly so.  Billions of dollars every year are spent caring for patients who acquire infections during the course of the treatment in a hospital. And recently, it has become obvious that ambulatory healthcare settings may have been underappreciated for their roles in spreading infection. Infusion and dialysis clinics are implicated in outbreaks of HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, and surgical site infections may be more prevalent than previously appreciated in Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs).

The ambulatory setting has its own unique sets of challenges when it comes to infection prevention due to the way that care is delivered. In contrast to acute settings, patients are held in common areas for longer periods of time, and they are often in procedures or surgery for shorter periods of time. While at first glance it may seem that this would decrease infection rates, this may in fact increase infections in various ways. For example, there are serious concerns regarding the cleanliness of the waiting room, procedure and post-procedure environments as compared to acute settings. In addition, patients are often not identified with infectious diseases prior to admittance, or tracked for infections after their care.

The education of staff regarding the basics of infection control such as proper hand hygiene, appropriate use of medical equipment, and antibiotic resistant organisms is often infrequent or incomplete in the ambulatory setting. The recent media attention given to outbreaks of HIV, HBV and HCV sheds a spotlight on how a lack of awareness for basic safe injection practices related to saline, medications and other infusates can lead to serious consequences for patients who are already terribly ill. Perhaps equally troubling is the fact that because these patients often do not develop infections for weeks, months or even years afterwards it is often difficult to determine how and when the patient acquired the infectious pathogen, and how many more patients will be identified with infection before mitigation measures can be put into place.

The new CMS Conditions for Coverage implemented May 18, 2009 for ASCs should go a long way in requiring an Infection Prevention and Control professional to oversee the education of clinicians on best practices for preventing and managing infections and communicable diseases, to track infection rates, and to integrate infection prevention with a quality improvement program. After all, these should be the required basics of infection prevention in any healthcare setting.

- Lisa M. Venegas, Sr. Writer/Producer, Envision, Inc., lisa@envisioninc.net

Preventing Bloodstream Infections from Central Venous Lines

Envision Inc. has just released a new educational training video that addresses one of the most serious healthcare associated infections (HAIs), Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLA-BSIs). In fact, there is increasing pressure from CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), The Joint Commission, IHI (Institute for Healthcare Improvement) and DHHS (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) to decrease the number of central line associated bloodstream infections in hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country.

Produced in association with the AVA (Association for Vascular Access, www.avainfo.org ), “Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections” addresses the very latest evidence-based practices from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and HICPAC/SHEA/IDSA/APIC recommendations for preventing central line-associated bloodstream infections.

Featured throughout the video is internationally renown infectious disease expert Dennis G. Maki, MD, Ovid O. Meyer Professor of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have Dr. Maki as a Clinical Advisor for this program and were even more thrilled when he gave us so much of his time and expertise to film on camera”, says Envision’s Vice President and Video Director, Mollye Brown. The other Clinical Advisor for the program is Rita McCormick, RN, CIC, Senior Infection Control Practitioner, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.

Central venous catheters are often essential when caring for patients in the acute, ambulatory, home care and long term care settings. And yet their use can be associated with bloodstream infections that can produce life threatening illnesses. Approximately 80,000 CLA-BSIs occur in ICUs across the U.S. every year – however the greatest number of patients with central lines are outside of the ICU environment in ambulatory clinics such as Hematology and Oncology wards. These facilities often discharge patients with lines in place where there is substantial risk for infection.

Discussed during the program are evidence-based practices and techniques for preventing CLA-BSI, including:

• Pathogenesis and transmission
• Risk Factors for CLA-BSI
• Infection prevention techniques before and during insertion Infection prevention strategies for care and maintenance of the catheter

The program includes a 15-minute visual presentation DVD and a CD with a Study Guide and Post Test. It also includes several TOOLS: Nursing Checklist for Central Venous Catheter Insertion, and two items provided by the AVA: SAVE That Line! poster and reference card.

The DVD program also includes a very exciting Bonus Track video of expanded quotes from Dennis Maki, MD and Rita McCormick, RN, CIC providing valuable education and additional insights into infection prevention strategies.

“Dr. Maki gives a tremendous amount of information about the complexity of some patients and why judgments must be made based on patient need. His interview gives a lot of strength to the DVD.” – Rita McCormick, RN, CIC

“The day we filmed with Dr. Maki at the University of Wisconsin was the day that the Swine Flu broke national news. Dr. Maki’s expertise was requested by news media around the world – and we thought he’d only be able to give us a few minutes of time for the filming. But instead he was extremely enthusiastic about discussing central line-associated bloodstream infections and, in the end, gave us so much time and expertise that we decided to include some of it on a Bonus Track video!”, states Brown.

The content of the program has also been reviewed by the AVA and several clinical experts including Keith A. Rains, RN, BSN, CIC, Infection Prevention Professional, ECHCS Denver Medical Center; April Tracy, RN, BSN, IP, Infection Prevention/Control Coordinator, T.J. Samson Community Hospital; and Jeanne E. Zack, PhD, RN, CIC, Manager Infection Prevention and Control, Missouri Baptist Medical Center. The program was filmed at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison, Wisconsin.

To view the entire video of “Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections”, visit the website, register and log in: www.EnvisionInc.net.

Infection Control During Hospital Construction

It’s that season when hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country are undergoing much needed repairs, remodeling and major construction. When a healthcare environment is disturbed during construction, repairs, and even small maintenance projects, pathogens can be released into the facility – with potentially devastating impact. Infection control and prevention becomes not only the responsibility of healthcare staff but of the building managers and construction crew.

Produced in association with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), Envision Inc.’s “Part of the Plan: Infection Prevention for Healthcare Professionals During Construction and Renovation” provides detailed instructions for proactive planning and implementation of infection prevention strategies during construction, repairs and facility maintenance. The 20-minute video includes a 10-question Post Test and “Infection Control Risk Assessment Tool”.

“Ensuring a safe construction project in a healthcare environment requires detailed, proactive planning and diligent implementation of controls.” — Judene M. Bartley, MS, MPH, CIC

The program includes:

• Performing a multidisciplinary Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) prior to planned activity for indoor or outdoor construction
• Implementing and monitoring mitigation recommendations/containment measures to prevent the spread of pathogens based on the project dust-generating activity, and patient risk group
• Proper protocols for entering and leaving a work area
• Environmental cleaning of the work site
• Education of construction personnel who will work at the facility

The content in this program is based on the AIA/FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospital and Healthcare Facilities, CDC Prevention Guidelines for Environmental Control and The Joint Commission Environment of Care Standards.

A related video training program specifically for construction personnel is also available: “Building on the Plan: Infection Prevention for Construction Personnel”. The 8-minute program helps construction personnel achieve a better understanding of the infection prevention and safety issues surrounding a construction project so that they may follow all of the measures carefully for their safety, as well as the safety of hospital patients.

The topics addressed include:

• Infectious organisms that may be found in the hospital setting, how they are transmitted and how to reduce the risk to patients
• HIPAA considerations
• Required regulatory safety and infection prevention measures
• Infection prevention practices and products to contain dust and debris
• Facility health protection requirements which may include health screenings or recommended immunizations
• Maintaining communication, including reporting problems

Both videos can be previewed in their entirety on the Envision website:  www.EnvisionInc.net

Links to the programs:

http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/part_of_the_plan_infection_prevention_for_healthcare_professionals_during_c/

http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/building_on_the_plan_infection_prevention_for_construction_personnel/

Envision Inc. wins three 2009 Worldfest Awards for Healthcare Videos

Envision Inc. is pleased to announce that they have recently won three 2009 Worldfest Awards:

• A Gold Remi Award for “Raise the Voice”, Produced for the American Academy of Nursing (AAN),
• A Silver Remi Award for “Nursing: The Career for a Lifetime”, Produced for the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA), and
• A Bronze Remi Award for “Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections”.

“Raise the Voice: Transforming Health Care Policy and Practice Through Nursing”  is a powerful video that tells the stories of how nurses are becoming healthcare innovators and leading the way in transforming an American healthcare system that is struggling with issues of cost, accessibility and efficiency. 

The video highlights two “Edge Runners”, Donna Shalala, the former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA, President of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Support for the video was provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

To learn more about what nurses are doing to transform health care across the country and to watch the Raise the Voice video, visit the AAN website: www.aannet.org.

Developed and produced for the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA),  “Nursing: The Career for a Lifetime” is an inspirational program that presents accomplished nurses sharing their career journeys and new nurses revealing their dream careers. The program can be downloaded from the NSNA website: www.nsna.org.

“Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections” is an 18-minute video training program that includes a Study Guide, Post Test and Tools: Foley Catheter Automatic Discontinuation Assessment, and Best Practices for Preventing CA-UTI Chart. The program features infectious disease Dr. Lindsay Nicolle and is approved for 1.0 hours of Continuing Education for Nurses.

UTIs are the #1 cause of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), and CMS will no longer reimburse for the treatment of preventable UTIs.  This program provides healthcare professionals with strategies to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections and improve patient care.

Highlights from the program include:

• Risk factors
• Causes and types of CA-UTIs
• Catheter selection
• Alternatives to indwelling catheterization
• Closed vs. open drainage systems
• Aseptic technique during care and maintenance of the catheter site and collection system
• Aseptic technique during insertion of the indwelling catheter
• Aseptic technique during urine sampling and emptying of the collection system
• Recognizing and responding to complications

The program was funded in part by an educational grant from Rochester Medical and can be previewed on the Envision Website:  www.EnvisionInc.net

http://www.envisioninc.net/index.php/programs/details/preventing_catheter_associated_urinary_tract_infections/

ANA Releases “Swine Flu – Information for Nurses”

The American Nurses Association (ANA) has just posted “Swine Flu – Information for Nurses” on their website: www.nursingworld.org . The page provides links and articles that “nurses will find helpful in ensuring that they, their families, their patients, and their communities are most ready to respond to this outbreak of flu.”

It includes how to sign up for email alerts and RSS feeds about the swine flu, symptoms of the swine flu as well as regular flu, what to do if your patient is suspected of having the swine flu, the proper use of face masks and other PPE, the use of antivirals, how nurses can protect themselves and educate patients, and how nurses can be prepared for an emergency.

Did you know: A person is believed to be contagious 1 day before the onset of symptoms and up to 7 days after becoming sick.

Envision Inc. also has several training videos that help nurses and healthcare staff be prepared for the swine flu, and other contagious diseases. The videos can be viewed online at www.EnvisionInc.net – simply register and log in.

“Back to Basics! OSHA Fit Testing for Particulate Respirators”:  Use of N95 respirators and proper fitting as recommended by OSHA and the CDC. For nurses and all healthcare staff who are exposed to infectious diseases such as SARS, Avian Flu, Small Pox, etc.

“Fighting Respiratory Diseases: Our Best Defense”: Influenza, Avian Flu, HMPV, RSV, etc. Produced in association with APIC and includes CDC Guidelines.

“Infection Control 8 Minute Solution: Respiratory Etiquette”: Influenza, SARS and other emerging respiratory diseases. Proper respiratory etiquette to prevent the spread of these diseases. Produced in association with APIC and includes CDC Guidelines.

“Infection Control 8 Minute Solution: Hand Hygiene”: Step-by-step instruction on hand hygiene to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Produced in association with APIC and designed for all healthcare staff.

“Hand Hygiene: Cleaning Up Our Act”: Step-by step instruction on hand hygiene to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Produced in association with APIC.

“Back to Basics! Selecting and Using Personal Protective Equipment”: Types of PPE and uses for Standard Precautions as well as Isolation Precautions per OSHA and CDC. For all healthcare staff.

“From Top to Bottom: The Front Line in Infection Control”: Cleaning and disinfection, PPE and infection control procedures for Environmental Services and housekeeping staff.

ASHES releases Swine Flu Advisory for Hospital ES

With U.S. cases of Swine Flu expected to increase dramatically, it is vitally important that all hospital staff, including Environmental Services and housekeeping personnel, are ready for swine flu patients and educated about infection control practices.