Download 02.30 - UTMB Outpatient Clinics

Section: UTMB On-line Documentation
Subject: Healthcare Epidemiology Policies and Procedures
Topic:
02.30 - UTMB Outpatient Clinics
02.30 - Policy
10.30.15- Revised
1994 - Author
02.30 - UTMB Outpatient Clinics
Purpose
To outline infection control policies for UTMB Outpatient Clinics
Audience
All UTMB employees of UTMB hospitals, community-based clinics, Regional Maternal
Child Clinics and Ambulatory surgical Center, contract workers, volunteers, and
students who work in the UTMB Outpatient Clinics.
Policy
All UTMB Healthcare Epidemiology (HCE) policies applicable to patient care in the
inpatient areas shall be followed in the UTMB outpatient clinics. HCE policies are
available on the UTMB employee website under Policies and Procedures.
Personnel
Infectious
Diseases
Control

Personnel shall receive annual training in Infection Control and Standard
Precautions appropriate to their job description.

Designated personnel shall receive PPD skin testing annually by the
Employee Health Service (EHS) staff or alternatively, by clinic staff trained by
EHS to perform testing.

Employees designated as Healthcare Workers who have direct patient
contact shall comply with HCE Policy 01.09 - Employee Health Center:
Communicable Disease Control. Bloodborne Pathogens Occupational PostExposure Chemoprophylaxis packets shall be on site. (Materials Management
#68579)

Personnel shall follow a plan for the prevention of exposure of staff and
students to blood and body fluids. See HCE Policy 01.32 - Exposure Control
Plan.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shall be available and easily located in
each exam room and all other patient care areas within the clinic. PPE shall
include mask, gown, gloves (S, M, L) and eye protection.

Hand hygiene shall be performed before and after each patient contact. See
HCE Policy 01.14 - Hand Hygiene for all Healthcare Workers.

Patients with acute diarrhea: place in private room and use contact
precautions. If vomiting is also present, wear a surgical mask for protection
and disinfect the environment with bleach solution (see HCE Policy 01.44 Prevention and Control of Healthcare-Associated Norovirus Infections).

Patients presenting with symptoms of meningitis should be placed in droplet
precautions and sent to an acute care facility immediately. Page HCE
(409.643.3133) immediately.

Patients presenting with an undiagnosed rash shall be immediately isolated in
a private room away from the rest of the patients and employees until a
diagnosis can be made. For petechial rash, add droplet precautions. If the
patient has been found to have a communicable disease and has exposed
employees or patients, the Department of Healthcare Epidemiology shall be
notified immediately (772-3192 or page).
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Section: UTMB On-line Documentation
Subject: Healthcare Epidemiology Policies and Procedures
Topic:
02.30 - UTMB Outpatient Clinics
General Practice
02.30 - Policy
10.30.15- Revised
1994 - Author

A patient with fever and cough or sore throat will be provided with a surgical
mask until placed in a private room. Use droplet precautions.

A patient with symptoms of pertussis, including paroxysmlal coughing with or
without “whoop” and or post-tussive vomiting shall be placed in a private room
and droplet precautions will be implemented.

Children with severe respiratory illness (suspected Enterovirus D68) should be
placed in a private room immediately. Implement extended contact and
droplet precautions. Notify HCE.

Any patient that presents to the clinic setting with fever, unexplained weight
loss, cough, or night sweats shall be masked immediately, placed in a room
with the door closed and then evaluated for tuberculosis. HCE shall be notified
immediately

Documentation of diseases that are reportable to public health authorities
shall be maintained by HCE.

The use and care of toys, dolls, and teaching aids in the outpatient clinics
shall be consistent with guidelines for inpatient areas. See HCE Policy 01.36 Toys, Dolls, and Teaching Aids

Medical and surgical supplies (i.e., patient care items) shall not be stored next
to or under sinks. See HCE Policy 01.05 - Cleaning, Sterilization, High Level
Disinfection and Storage of Patient Care Devices and Other Items.

Delivery of chemotherapy, blood and blood products shall be performed using
aseptic technique and Standard Precautions.

Ambulatory surgical services shall follow the guidelines identified for the
inpatient surgical services. See HCE Policy 01.46 - Guideline for Prevention of
Surgical Site Infections.

Patient care equipment and medical devices shall be cleaned and
reprocessed in accordance with HCE Policy 01.5 - Cleaning and
Reprocessing of Patient Care Equipment and Medical Devices.

Sterilizers shall be maintained and monitored according to the guidelines
stated in the HCE Policy 01.21 Monitoring of Sterilizers
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