adminWhile data describing risks for Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) are lacking for most ambulatory settings, numerous outbreak reports have described transmission of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, mycobacteria, viruses, and parasites.
In many instances, outbreaks and other adverse events were associated with breakdowns in basic infection prevention procedures (e.g., reuse of syringes leading to transmission of bloodborne viruses). For this reason, it is imperative that all ambulatory settings have infection control protocols in place.
In an online, on-demand course developed by the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED), which is accredited for 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, participants will:
- Gain knowledge concerning practicing effective infection control protocols to reduce transmission of infections
- Identify improvements needed with regards to current routine infection control practices
- Practice effective communication with a goal of reducing the potential for transmission of infections
- Establish appropriate standard precautions to decrease transmission of infections
- Recognize key infection control practices
- Formulate improvements associated with infection control to reduce transmission and improve the health of the patient
Over the past several decades, we have witnessed a significant shift in health care delivery from the acute, inpatient hospital setting to a variety of ambulatory and community-based settings. Ambulatory care is provided in hospital-based outpatient clinics, non-hospital-based clinics and physician offices, ambulatory surgical centers, and many other specialized settings.
Vulnerable patient populations rely on frequent and intensive use of ambulatory care to maintain or improve their health. Compared to inpatient acute care settings, ambulatory care settings have traditionally lacked infrastructure and resources to support infection prevention and surveillance activities.
As health care services are transitioning more and more to ambulatory care settings, it is important to remember that all health care settings, regardless of the level of care provided, must make infection prevention a priority and must observe standard precautions.
Ambulatory care infection prevention programs should extend beyond Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) bloodborne pathogen training to address more comprehensive infection prevention guidelines.
More Tools You Can Use: PMSCO Healthcare Consulting’s Infection Control Plan allows you to download and customize Microsoft Word files including policies and forms for your practice. It is $250 for members and $300 for non-members. PMSCO is a subsidiary of PAMED.
Accreditation Statement: The Pennsylvania Medical Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Designation statement: The Pennsylvania Medical Society designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. Physician should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Expiration date – 12/31/16
Activity Development Team
- Tracey Ziegler, RN (Faculty and Planner)
- Marcia Lammando (Faculty and Planner)
- Tracey Glenn (Planner)
The members of the Activity Development Team have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.