Focusing on Bugs

One of the most common areas of deficiencies for HME companies going through an accreditation survey is infection control.

Many providers work hard through the pre-survey process to ensure their policies and procedures for cleaning and disinfection of equipment are well-documented. But when it comes time for the survey, the process goes down the tubes. The staff members in the trenches delivering and picking up the equipment each day are the ones observed during a survey. It can quickly become clear to a surveyor what is part of the employee's daily routine and what is not.

When a surveyor does not observe proper infection control guidelines being met, the provider is almost always guaranteed a return unannounced visit to insure the process is being handled correctly at a later date.

How can you avoid the most common failures?

• First, teach your staff about proper hand washing. Hand washing is the No. 1 way to prevent the spread of infection. Washing one's hands with soap and warm water causing friction for at least 10 seconds, followed with drying using paper towels, is the technique all staff should use.

  In between patients, and when soap and water are not available, staff should have access to large bottles of alcohol hand gel that can be refilled when needed. Bottles that have a pump on the top are best for those driving vehicles or for staff working at stations where they will be accessing the pump several times a day.

  A surveyor riding along with a staff member making deliveries should see an actively used bottle of gel in the cup holder. The driver should also have ready access to gloves and paper towels.

  If the surveyor has to ask for it, if the staff member has to rustle around under piles of junk to find it, if the bottle is a tiny travel size that would be inadequate for one day of deliveries, your surveyor immediately recognizes that this is not a part of the driver's daily practice and you will be cited, no matter how much education you've done.

  There are many ways to assess whether hand washing is part of one's daily routine. Your surveyor may ask the patient seen during the ride-along if the driver washes his/her hands when making deliveries (when applicable). This is not a function performed merely to please a surveyor; it is the primary means of stopping the spread of infection to your staff and patients and needs to be an integral part of everyone's daily routine.