H1N1 (Swine Flu) Training Is Vital for Healthcare Workers

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.

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.

Combating the Swine Flu: Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Staff

The outbreak of swine flu, including 111 human cases that have been reported in the U.S. so far, should be a serious reminder to all healthcare staff of the importance of proper hand hygiene. Although it seems like a simple concept, hand hygiene is often overlooked and hand washing is even done incorrectly in healthcare facilities across the country. And yet proper hand hygiene is still the #1 way to prevent the spread of infectious microorganisms, both in healthcare facilities and in the community!

Everyone from acute care staff to ambulatory personnel, from hospital volunteers to housekeeping staff to doctors (yes, doctors are sometimes the worst about adhering to proper hand hygiene protocols!) should review the CDC’s Hand Hygiene Guidelines: http://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/

Envision Inc. has produced several video training programs for healthcare staff that include proper hand hygiene techniques.  Those videos include:

“Infection Control 8-Minute Solution: Hand Hygiene” (produced in association with APIC, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, www.apic.org)

“Infection Control for General Orientation: What You Need to Know” (includes hand hygiene, bloodborne pathogens, Standard Precautions, Personal Protective Equipment, isolation precautions, respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette and safe injection practices)

“Back to Basics: Infection Prevention Series” (OSHA and CDC requirements)

And “From Top to Bottom: the Front Line of Infection Control”: produced in association with ASHES (American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services, www.ashes.org) for environmental services and housekeeping staff.

All of these videos are available for free preview viewing on our website – all you have to do is register: www.EnvisionInc.net.

The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goal #7 and #7a:

• Reduce the risk of health care-associated infections (HAIs).
• Comply with current World Health Organization (WHO) Hand Hygiene Guidelines or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hand Hygiene Guidelines.

The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals require accredited healthcare organizations to follow recognized hand hygiene guidelines and yet studies continue to show that adherence to these guidelines is lacking. In an effort to help healthcare organizations measure hand hygiene performance, The Joint Commission is releasing “Measuring Hand Hygiene Adherence: Overcoming the Challenges”. Participating organizations include: APIC, the CDC, WHO, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).