Carol Blanar, RN, CNOR, executive director of the Indiana Federation of Ambulatory Surgical Centers, shares six ways Indiana ASCs can strengthen their infection control programs right now.
1. Appoint and train an individual to develop facility policies and monitor infection control regulations. Ms. Blanar says this individual does not need to be a certified infection preventionist but does need to demonstrate ongoing training in infection control practices. Training programs are available through various organizations that are reasonably priced, and some programs can be completed online.
2. Read the CMS regulations on infection control. Although this may seem like an obvious first step to take, Ms. Blanar says based on surveyor observations, many ASCs simply do not read federal regulations on infection control. Half the battle is knowing precisely what regulators and surveyors are looking for in infection control programs, so consulting the official guidelines will help ASCs build more robust and effective programs.
"Our state ASC association offers up a copy of these regulations, which also include an infection control surveyor worksheet," Ms. Blanar says. "This worksheet lists everything surveyors are going to look at when it is time for a survey, what exactly they're going to observe, how many times and so on. Using that worksheet as the base for developing an infection control program will help ASCs develop a workable and sustainable infection control program."
3. Consult resources offered by the state. The Indiana Healthcare Associated Infection Initiative is being developed by the Indiana State Department of Health in an effort to assist Indiana healthcare facilities reduce and eliminate healthcare-associated infections. ASCs, hospitals, long-term care facilities and dialysis facilities are involved in as collaborative team members. As the initiative wraps up in the fall of 2011, Ms. Blanar says Indiana ASCs can expect to have more quality improvement tools available to them to help train their employees and monitor their facility practices as a means of preventing infections. More information can be found at the state website.
"Three ASCs are participating in the state initiative to help develop tools specific to the ASC setting," she says. "ASC constituents are involved in and concentrating on surgical site infection prevention. The criteria being utilized is based on the World Health Organization’s recommendations."
4. Capitalize on organization's resources. Ms. Blanar says ASCs can access other healthcare organization's resources for infection control tools and information. The Association for periOperative Registered Nurses, Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, ASC Quality Collaboration, WHO and other organizations provide a wealth of toolkits and information at ASCs' disposal.
5. Attend state and national ASC association conferences. The Indiana Federation of Ambulatory Surgical Centers holds two meetings annually, which allows attending ASCs the opportunity to learn more information about infection control initiatives and how to build more effective programs. Subject matter experts are brought in to each meeting to give ASCs greater insight into infection control-related issues.
"During our 2010 spring conference, we had a certified infection control expert from Clarian Health Partners come in and discuss the CMS Conditions for Coverage for Infection Control, how to implement great programs and what surveyors look for," Ms. Blanar says. "The conference attendees learned about the regulations and what measures to take to be in compliance."
6. Determine common survey deficiencies. If possible, ASCs should determine what the most common infection control-related deficiencies surveyors find during CMS-mandated surveys. Ms. Blanar says, through funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, CMS surveys were conducted throughout the state. Some common deficiencies noted by state surveyors were that ASCs had not read the CMS Conditions for Coverage for Infection Control, did not following manufacturers' recommendations for use of cleaning products and lacked proper documentation on education and training of infection control preventionists, Ms. Blanar says.
"Another aspect surveyors often found was some ASCs had the windows connecting clean rooms with soiled rooms open all day," she adds. "These windows are to be open only for pass through of items and are to be closed otherwise."
7. Focus on hand-washing compliance and use of antibiotics. Ms. Blanar suggests ASCs refocus their attention to hand hygiene and antibiotic administration. The healthcare industry is coming under greater scrutiny for infections, and these are two key components to be mindful of when strengthening infection control.
"There are statistics published that say if everyone would follow hand-washing principles, infections would probably be reduced by as much as 98 percent," Ms. Blanar says. "Additionally, overuse of antibiotics is a key cause of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can cause infections."
Learn more about Indiana Federation of Ambulatory Surgical Centers.
1. Appoint and train an individual to develop facility policies and monitor infection control regulations. Ms. Blanar says this individual does not need to be a certified infection preventionist but does need to demonstrate ongoing training in infection control practices. Training programs are available through various organizations that are reasonably priced, and some programs can be completed online.
2. Read the CMS regulations on infection control. Although this may seem like an obvious first step to take, Ms. Blanar says based on surveyor observations, many ASCs simply do not read federal regulations on infection control. Half the battle is knowing precisely what regulators and surveyors are looking for in infection control programs, so consulting the official guidelines will help ASCs build more robust and effective programs.
"Our state ASC association offers up a copy of these regulations, which also include an infection control surveyor worksheet," Ms. Blanar says. "This worksheet lists everything surveyors are going to look at when it is time for a survey, what exactly they're going to observe, how many times and so on. Using that worksheet as the base for developing an infection control program will help ASCs develop a workable and sustainable infection control program."
3. Consult resources offered by the state. The Indiana Healthcare Associated Infection Initiative is being developed by the Indiana State Department of Health in an effort to assist Indiana healthcare facilities reduce and eliminate healthcare-associated infections. ASCs, hospitals, long-term care facilities and dialysis facilities are involved in as collaborative team members. As the initiative wraps up in the fall of 2011, Ms. Blanar says Indiana ASCs can expect to have more quality improvement tools available to them to help train their employees and monitor their facility practices as a means of preventing infections. More information can be found at the state website.
"Three ASCs are participating in the state initiative to help develop tools specific to the ASC setting," she says. "ASC constituents are involved in and concentrating on surgical site infection prevention. The criteria being utilized is based on the World Health Organization’s recommendations."
4. Capitalize on organization's resources. Ms. Blanar says ASCs can access other healthcare organization's resources for infection control tools and information. The Association for periOperative Registered Nurses, Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, ASC Quality Collaboration, WHO and other organizations provide a wealth of toolkits and information at ASCs' disposal.
5. Attend state and national ASC association conferences. The Indiana Federation of Ambulatory Surgical Centers holds two meetings annually, which allows attending ASCs the opportunity to learn more information about infection control initiatives and how to build more effective programs. Subject matter experts are brought in to each meeting to give ASCs greater insight into infection control-related issues.
"During our 2010 spring conference, we had a certified infection control expert from Clarian Health Partners come in and discuss the CMS Conditions for Coverage for Infection Control, how to implement great programs and what surveyors look for," Ms. Blanar says. "The conference attendees learned about the regulations and what measures to take to be in compliance."
6. Determine common survey deficiencies. If possible, ASCs should determine what the most common infection control-related deficiencies surveyors find during CMS-mandated surveys. Ms. Blanar says, through funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, CMS surveys were conducted throughout the state. Some common deficiencies noted by state surveyors were that ASCs had not read the CMS Conditions for Coverage for Infection Control, did not following manufacturers' recommendations for use of cleaning products and lacked proper documentation on education and training of infection control preventionists, Ms. Blanar says.
"Another aspect surveyors often found was some ASCs had the windows connecting clean rooms with soiled rooms open all day," she adds. "These windows are to be open only for pass through of items and are to be closed otherwise."
7. Focus on hand-washing compliance and use of antibiotics. Ms. Blanar suggests ASCs refocus their attention to hand hygiene and antibiotic administration. The healthcare industry is coming under greater scrutiny for infections, and these are two key components to be mindful of when strengthening infection control.
"There are statistics published that say if everyone would follow hand-washing principles, infections would probably be reduced by as much as 98 percent," Ms. Blanar says. "Additionally, overuse of antibiotics is a key cause of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can cause infections."
Learn more about Indiana Federation of Ambulatory Surgical Centers.