PROMOTION OF SAFETY IN HEALTH CARE

SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING…

• Medical errors rank as the 8th leading cause of death in the US – higher than motor vehicle accidents (43,458), breast cancer (42,297), or AIDS (16,516)

• According to the CDC, in US hospitals hospital-acquired infections account for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths each year

• One in every four Medicare patients who were hospitalized from 2000 to 2002 and experienced a patient-safety incident died

• Safety in the health care industry is every employee’s responsibility

• Safety protects: patients, health care worker, co-workers and visitors

• Common injuries of health care workers: musculoskeletal strain, needlesticks

ORGANIZATIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFETY IN HEALTH CARE:• OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health

Administration

• www.osha.gov

• JCAHO: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

• www.jointcommission.org

JOINT COMISSION

• Non profit est in 1951

• Safety/quality of care

• Accreditation status can affect licensure/funding

• Surveys conducted annually

• National patient safety goals

• Safety goals: id pt correctly, improve communication, med admin, reduce HAI, identify pt safety risks, prevent surgical mistakes

• Responsibility of all hcw

OSHA

• Dept of Labor agency

• Occup Safety and Health Act in 1970

• Mission:

• prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths

• Est/enforce workplace safety/health standards

• 2 standards that affect health care workers:

• 1. Occupational Expos to Hazardous Chemicals Standard

• 2. Blood Borne Pathogens Standard

1. OCCUP EXP TO HAZ CHEM

• Emplyrs must:

• inform ee’s of wrkplace hazards, safe handling procedures, location of MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)

• train ee’s, report all exposures

• All manufacturers must provide MSDS for hazardous products sold

• MSDS: physical data, health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, disposal, PPE, spill/leak procedures

2. BBP STANDARD

• BBP, est in 1991 to protect hcw from exp to body fl

• Primary diseases transmitted by body fl inc: Hep B, Hep C, HIV/AIDS

• Emplyr: H/W, Hep B vacc, PPE, sharps disposal, tx for exposures, training

• Needlestick Safety Act of 2001: safer devices, inj log, tx for sticks

BODY MECHANICS

DID YOU KNOW

• Over 1 million workers suffer from back injuries during the course of their careers

• 60% of the US population has experienced back pain at some point in their lives

• 5% of the US population suffers from chronic back pain

• Lifting a 10lb object can put up to 1150 lbs of pressure on the lower back!

• Most back injuries are preventable!

BODY MECHANICS DEFINED

• utilization of correct muscles to complete a task safely/efficiently, w/out undue strain on any muscle/joint

• way the body moves and maintains balance while making efficient use of all of its parts

4 REASONS FOR GOOD BODY MECHANICS:

• Muscles work best when used correctly

• Makes tasks easier

• Prevents fatigue/strain; saves energy

• Prevents injury to self and others

9 RULES OF GOOD BODY MECHANICS

• 1. Maintain Wide Base of Support: keep feet 8-10” apart pointed in direction of movement

• 2. Bend at knees and hips not from waist; keep back straight

• 3. Use strongest muscles: deltoid, bi/tricep, quad, hamstring

• 4. Use body weight to push, pull or slide. Try not to lift

• 5. Keep the object being lifted close to your body

• 6. Avoid twisting; turn feet and entire body

• 7. Avoid prolonged bending

• 8. Always plan lift and test load

• 9. If unsure, get help

• Good body mechanics

or not??

Why or why not??

• What body mechanics rules are not being followed here?

RISK FACTORS FOR BACK INJURIES:

• Obesity

• Lack of muscle tone/poor physical fitness

• Poor body mechanics

• Poor posture

• Age

• Previous back injury

• Stress

• Smoking

• Underlying disease process

ERGONOMICS

• Adapting the environment to prevent inj

• Includes:

• Correct placement of equip, training for correct use of muscles, avoidance of repetitive motion

POOR ERGONOMICS

SAFETY IN THE HC ENVIRONMENT

• Involves the following:

• Equipment

• Patient

• HCW

• Fire

1. EQUIPMENT/SOLUTION SAFETY

• Do not use any equipment unless trained

• Read all equip instructions/attend inservices

• Report all damage/malfunction

• Observe all equip safety precautions

• Read MSDS

• Do not use unlabeled soln

• Read labels 3 times

• Do not mix solns unless there is awareness of compatibility

• Clean all spills acc to institution/soln guidelines

2. PATIENT SAFETY

• Do not perform any procedures unless qualified/trained

• Always verify all medical orders

• Use only approved methods

• Avoid shortcuts

• Explain all procedures/obtain consent

• Observe the patient closely during all procedures

• Wash hands frequently!

• Wear PPE when indicated

• Identify the patient: Ask name/DOB, check wristband, use name x 2, check chart

• Prior to proced: introd self, ID pt, explain proced, obtain consent

PATIENT BRACELETS

• Allergy

• DNR

• Restricted Extremity

• Yellow: Fall Risk

• Latex allergy

• Same Name

• Observe patient safety checkpoints:

• 1. pt in a comfortable position

• 2. bed in lowest position

• 3. siderails up if indicated

• 4. bed wheels locked

• 5. call signal/supplies in reach

• 6. door/curtain open/closed

• 7. pt area neat/clean

• 8. check for hazards

Wheelchair safety:

•1.Inspect w/c: all parts in good working order?

•2. Use right side of hallway/care at intersections.

•3. Pull w/c backwards into elevator

•4. Walk w/c backwards down any ramps

•5. Use body weight to push chair

3. HEALTH CARE WORKER SAFETY• Individual responsibility

• Use correct body mechanics

• Walk!

• Follow traffic pattern: keep to right

• Report any unsafe situations

• Report all injuries, even if minor, to superv

• Keep work area neat

• Wear ID, proper attire

• H/W frequently!

• Use PPE as indicated for certain pts/procedures

• Always follow standard and isolation based precautions

• Never recap needles

• Flush eyes/skin if contaminated

FIRE SAFETY

• Potential in hosp d/t electrical equipment/solutions in use

• Units at greatest risk?

• Multipurpose fire extinguisher: Class ABC

• Remain calm!

• Follow all institution guidelines; know fire emergency plan

• Know how to operate a fire extinguisher

• What are the Code Red procedures at Taylor?

• Follow institution no smoking policies

• Dispose of waste in appropriate containers

• Use care when operating all electrical equip

• Store flammables in appropriate containers/areas

• Make sure fire exits are not blocked

• Observe O2 safety guidelines

RACE

• Rescue

• Alarm

• Contain

• Extinguish

PASS

• Pull the pin

• Aim at base

• Squeeze the handle

• Sweep side to side; stand back 6-10 feet

O2 IN USE

• No smoking

• Remove all smoking related material

• Signs posted: O2 in use

• Use care with all electrical equip

• Avoid static elec

• No flammables