TARRY HOUSE, INC.

 

Subject:  Infection Control Policy                                

 

Procedure Number:  H.S. 14

Site: Tarry House

 

Issued By: Executive Director

Effective: 4/01/97

Approved By: The Board of Trustees

Revised:  3/01/01; 7/20/05

Reference Policy:

Reviewed: 11/27/00; 12/19/02; 1/27/04; 7/20/05; 10/6/08

 

Standards Reference:

CARF: Section 1. E.                 

ODMH: 5122-30-12

 

I.                   Purpose

 

                  To insure that the spread of infection is prevented, Tarry House, Inc. shall follow required

                  Infection control measures.

 

II.                Policy

 

                  It shall be the policy of Tarry House, Inc. to follow infection control procedures mandated by

                  the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), State and local health departments and

                  to follow sound hygiene practices for shared living spaces. In accordance with the Ohio Department

                  to Mental Health (ODMH), Tarry House, Inc.  will provide residential services to persons who may

                  be affected by contagious diseases and/or AIDS, while maintaining their individual rights and

                  confidentiality.

 

                  It shall also be the policy of Tarry House, Inc. that all Tarry House staff be trained in Infection

                  Control procedures (i.e. universal precautions) on an annual basis.

 

III.             Procedure

 

                  In recognition of potential risks, universal precautions shall be used at all times.

                  This means that all staff shall follow precautions and wear protective gloves and clothing

                  when in contact with blood, body fluids, feces, and oral secretions or when the

                  infectious status of a person is unknown.

 

·        Gloves should be worn at all times when handling articles and touching surfaces soiled with blood and body fluids and when touching mucous membranes or non-intact skin of persons served.  Gloves must be discarded after each use in the hazardous waste container.

·        Gowns or aprons should be worn during activities or procedures that are likely to generate splashes of blood or other body fluids.  Hands and other skin surfaces must be washed immediately after gloves are removed.

·        All staff should take precautions to prevent injuries caused by needles, personal hygiene tools and kitchen knives.  Used needles, and/or disposable syringes must be placed in sharps containers and removed for disposal by licensed health care providers.

·        All soiled towels and washcloths should be placed in the designated laundry cart and washed with bleach by staff.

·        When emergency mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is necessary, special masks are recommended for use.

 

 

·        Direct care workers who have draining lesions or weeping dermatitis should refrain from direct patient care or food handling.

 

The most important factor in this policy is thorough hand washing after direct contact with infectious clients and whenever there is contact with blood and/or bodily fluids.

           

 

 

 

________________________________________                                                    _____________________

                 Executive Director                                                                                                   Date