The nature of any health care environment is such that infections can spread from practically anywhere whether it is among patients, working staff, equipment or other areas. The importance of infection control in the health care industry is felt by everyone concerned. Thus health authorities at the national and regional have several control guidelines in place and always encourage health care facilities to ensure constant monitoring. As per the requirement, a health care facility may have well laid out infection -controls guidelines on paper, but their practical implementation can be quite another matter.
The following 4 points will tell you what is required to make such course workable in a real world health care environment:
• Structured Surveillance: The success of any course depends on proper surveillance; for it is only through constant monitoring that infection can be noticed and checked on time. Surveillance could be general covering the entire facility or can be more targeted where its objective and strategy would be adapted according to the infection with respect to the particular site. The ideal type of surveillance would depend on the size and nature of the health care facility. Furthermore the personnel working at the ground level should necessarily be a part of any surveillance team as they will notice any signs of infection faster than the administrative staff which will ultimately help in quicker corrective action.
• Infection Control Practitioner: An infections control practitioner will monitor and manage all preventive as well as curative activities related to infection control. A good course must provide ample support to the practitioners so that their role is well integrated for a more effective working of the plan. Health care personnel like a physician or a nurse can be trained to undertake this role.
• Experienced Epidemiologist: Think of an epidemiologist as a detective of the medical field who tracks and tries to understand various disease patterns and the risks they can pose in diverse set ups. Such a person will not only compile valuable statistical data but also provide useful consultation. Besides the education in the relevant field, an epidemiologist might also specialize in a particular disease. This person will provide an infection -control course with all the intelligence it needs.
• Efficient Communication: While all the personnel must be well educated and trained, establishing effective channels for communication is an indispensable part of an infection control course. This will ensure that as soon as any infection spread is suspected the information will pass on immediately to the concerned person so that the required steps are taken without delay.
The course will ultimately depend on the size and nature of the facility, for example a large hospital will require full time professionals, whereas a professional team that works for a group of facilities will be sufficient for smaller health care establishments. Either way, in addition to having a well thought out this course, every health care facility must ensure that sufficient resources are provided so that the info presented in the training can help staff function efficiently.
Article Source: Greg_Garner
The following 4 points will tell you what is required to make such course workable in a real world health care environment:
• Structured Surveillance: The success of any course depends on proper surveillance; for it is only through constant monitoring that infection can be noticed and checked on time. Surveillance could be general covering the entire facility or can be more targeted where its objective and strategy would be adapted according to the infection with respect to the particular site. The ideal type of surveillance would depend on the size and nature of the health care facility. Furthermore the personnel working at the ground level should necessarily be a part of any surveillance team as they will notice any signs of infection faster than the administrative staff which will ultimately help in quicker corrective action.
• Infection Control Practitioner: An infections control practitioner will monitor and manage all preventive as well as curative activities related to infection control. A good course must provide ample support to the practitioners so that their role is well integrated for a more effective working of the plan. Health care personnel like a physician or a nurse can be trained to undertake this role.
• Experienced Epidemiologist: Think of an epidemiologist as a detective of the medical field who tracks and tries to understand various disease patterns and the risks they can pose in diverse set ups. Such a person will not only compile valuable statistical data but also provide useful consultation. Besides the education in the relevant field, an epidemiologist might also specialize in a particular disease. This person will provide an infection -control course with all the intelligence it needs.
• Efficient Communication: While all the personnel must be well educated and trained, establishing effective channels for communication is an indispensable part of an infection control course. This will ensure that as soon as any infection spread is suspected the information will pass on immediately to the concerned person so that the required steps are taken without delay.
The course will ultimately depend on the size and nature of the facility, for example a large hospital will require full time professionals, whereas a professional team that works for a group of facilities will be sufficient for smaller health care establishments. Either way, in addition to having a well thought out this course, every health care facility must ensure that sufficient resources are provided so that the info presented in the training can help staff function efficiently.
Article Source: Greg_Garner
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