Download +05020200.Communicable.Diseases

CENTRAL OHIO MENTAL HEALTH CENTER
Subject:
Communicable Diseases and Infection Control
Section:
05.02.02.00
Effective Date: 10/16/2009
Approved by: ______________________________
Larry Westbrook, Board President
PURPOSE: To establish the Center’s practices with respect to personnel illnesses and the
potential for illnesses to be passed on to clients, visitors, or workforce members. It is
paramount for all workforce members to prevent unnecessary exposure to or spread of
communicable diseases.
POLICY:
The Center workforce and clients in all treatment programs shall follow procedures approved by
the Medical Staff to prevent unnecessary exposure to or spread of contagious or communicable
diseases.
I.
Contagious and Communicable Diseases
A.
To reduce exposure, the Center identifies and will establish procedures to
monitors for the following contagious illnesses and communicable diseases.
1)
Contagious Illnesses
a)
Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (Cold, Flu, etc.)
b)
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
c)
Diarrhea Disease
d)
Draining or Infected Skin Lesions
e)
Herpes Simplex (Fever Blister, or Whitlows)
f)
Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
g)
Pediculosis (Lice) and Scabies (Mites).
h)
Streptococcal Throat Infection
2)
Communicable Diseases:
a)
Hepatitis A
b)
Hepatitis B
c)
Hepatitis C
d)
AIDS
e)
Tuberculosis
f)
Chickenpox
g)
Measles
h)
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
i)
Meningitis
j)
Rubella
II.
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Infection Control
A.
To prevent unnecessary exposure and the spread of contagious illness and
communicable diseases the following steps will be taken:
1)
Outpatient Programs
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a)
2)
3)
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Clients will be instructed as part of their orientation that they are to
call in sick and remain at home if they have vomiting, diarrhea, or
frequent sneezing or coughing.
b)
Clients will be instructed also to call in sick and remain at home as
recommended if they are aware of having any contagious illness
or communicable diseases listed above.
c)
Employees will offer to assist clients in obtaining appropriate
medical services regarding any of the above listed illnesses or
diseases, to reduce the risk of harm and minimize exposure of
communicable or contagious illnesses to other clients, visitors or
employees.
d)
The Executive Director reserve the right to request any client or
visitor to the Center return home and encourage that individual to
seek appropriate medical treatment if it is determined the
individual presents an immediate risk of spreading a potential
contagious or communicable illness or disease to others.
e)
Depending on the nature of the illness, a physician’s statement
may be requested in order for the client to return to the Center.
Residential Programs:
a)
If a residential client exhibit any signs or symptoms related to the
any of the above listed communicable illnesses or diseases, the
Residential Coordinator or designee may required the resident be
transferred to a medical facility for evaluation and appropriate
treatment to prevent unnecessary exposure and the spread of a
communicable disease or illness.
b)
The resident has the right to refuse medical treatment; however
the Executive Director reserves the right to restrict a resident’s
return to the program in order to prevent unnecessary exposure
and/or the spread of a communicable or contagious disease or
illness to other residents staying at a residential facility until a
medical evaluation is obtained.
c)
Depending on the nature of the illness, a physician’s statement
may be requested in order for the resident to return to the Center.
Employee Responsibility
a)
The Center will establish procedures employees are expected to
follow when infected with a communicable or contagious illness or
disease
b)
Employees are encouraged to call in sick and remain at home if
they have vomiting, diarrhea, a temperature, or frequent sneezing
or coughing.
c)
The Executive Director reserve the right to request any employee
return home and encourage that individual to seek appropriate
medical treatment if it is determined the individual presents an
immediate risk of spreading a potential contagious or
communicable illness or disease to others.
(i)
Employees that are asked to return home by the Executive
Director due to contagious or communicable illness will be
required to use Paid Time Off for that day.
d)
Depending on the nature of the illness, a physician’s statement
may be requested in order for an employee to return to the
Center.
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e)
B.
All employees will use universal precautions as described in the
Center’s Safety and Risk Management Plan when coming in
contact with body fluids or Other Potential Infectious Materials.
f)
Employees are expected to report all infectious / communicable
diseases (other than common cold and flu) observed on the
Center’s Incident Report and submit that to the Compliance
Director or designee within the 16 hours of discovery.
Any client or workforce member deemed to be contagious must be evaluated by
an agency Nurse, or, if preferred their Primary Care Physician, who will
determine what steps need to be taken.
III.
If a client, workforce member, or visitor is identified as having or is suspected of having a
communicable disease, an Incident Report will be completed and forwarded to the
Center’s Compliance Director or designed according to the Center’s Policy for Incident
Reporting (03.03.04.00).
IV.
The Center’s Unusual Incident Committee will review all Incident Reports to determine
any trends or patterns, recommendation for prevention and reduction of transmission of
communicable diseases, and/or additional education or training and report finding to the
Center’s Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Committee.
V.
All clients and employees will receive training regarding the prevention and control of
infections and communicable diseases. Employees will receive appropriate training in
the use of universal precautions.
RESPONSIBILITY:
The Executive Director is responsible for the communication and implementation of this policy
and any subsequent procedures that are applicable.
Revised:
10/16/2009, 10/01/2007
Approved:
10/16/2009, 06/24/2005
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