Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. Cleaning of equipment after each use is a mandatory Policy of our Infection Control Program, every staff is training in this standard. Calibration of all equipment used, such as Glucometers, must be done as per manufacturer’s guidelines, doctor’s order, but at least weekly. Cleanliness of the surface of the equipment/device i) Many chemical disinfectants/sterilants are inactivated by organic material. Cleaning must always precede decontamination. ii) The greater the bioburden, the more difficult it is to disinfect or sterilize the equipment/device. Type and concentration of the product i) Products used for disinfection and/or sterilization must be mixed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations in order to achieve the correct dilution. If the concentration of the disinfectant is too low, the efficacy will be decreased. If the concentration is too high, the risk of damage to the instrument or toxic effects on the user increases. ii) Dry equipment/devices after cleaning, before immersing in disinfectant to prevent dilution of the disinfectant. iii) Discard solutions on or before expiry date. Diluted products are inherently unstable once mixed and the manufacturer’s directions as to duration of use must be followed. iv) Use chemical test strips for all high level liquid disinfectants to assess their efficacy. During reuse, the concentration of active ingredients may drop as dilution of the product occurs and organic impurities accumulate. v) Use the right disinfectant for the job. Infection prevention and control must approve the product and application. Use manufacturer's recommendations for temperature and for exposure time required to achieve the desired level of disinfection/sterilization. Do not exceed the manufacturer's maximum exposure time as some chemicals may cause damage to the medical equipment/device if used for extended periods of time. vi) Some microorganisms are more resistant to germicidal chemicals, and this must be taken into consideration when choosing the product/process. Transportation and Handling of Contaminated Medical Equipment/Devices Disposable sharps such as needles and blades shall be removed and disposed of in an appropriate puncture-resistant sharps container at point of use, prior to transportation. Inspection i) Visually inspect all equipment/devices once the cleaning process has been completed and prior to terminal disinfection/sterilization to ensure cleanliness and integrity of the equipment/device (e.g. cracks, defects, adhesive failures). ii) Repeat the cleaning on any item that is not clean. iii) Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for lubrication. iv) Do not reassemble equipment/device prior to disinfection/sterilization. L-27 Home Health Agency Client Assessments