PRACTICE MANAGEMENT : A PERSPECTIVE OF SAFETY
lent your pen to the patient ’ s spouse to take a few notes about follow-up and procedures you suggested .
Approximately
one third of healthcare acquired infections are preventable . However , according to the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths ( RID ), a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives , hospital and practitioner infections kill more Americans each year than AIDS , breast cancer and auto accidents combined . In fact , there are approximately two million people each year who acquire infections or become ill in clinical settings and from practitioners .
Thankfully , hygiene and infection prevention in all hospitals and most clinics have become a priority , possibly in part because evidence shows that nearly all hospital and clinic infections are preventable when clinicians clean their hands and follow other infection prevention measures . This evidence , however , has put clinicians at greater risk of liability lawsuits . Hospitals , clinics and practitioners that don ’ t implement infection prevention precautions will likely face more lawsuits . This means that , if a jury believes that you failed to enforce hand hygiene rules and implement necessary infection prevention practices , you could potentially be found negligent and held liable .
Liability can go much deeper
If you ’ re uncertain that you are following proper safety precautions , then chances are you need to seek out assistance in this area . Even retail footwear stores seeing varieties of illness , injury or wounds are at risk .
than monetary compensation for responsibility for a patient issue . A patient ’ s quality of life can and will be lessened with an infection . As a practitioner interacting with varying degrees of illness , disease and wounds , you have the heavy responsibility for the safety of co-workers and anyone entering your work environment .
If you ’ re uncertain that you are following proper safety precautions , then chances are you need to seek out assistance in this area . Even retail footwear stores seeing varieties of illness , injury or wounds are at risk . Your pedorthic practice should adopt and implement a policy and procedure manual following the approved CDC guidelines for universal precautions and healthcare infection control . Secondly , always refer to the rules and regulations of any clinic setting , home health agency or health care environment you are working in conjunction with . Those guidelines are there to protect you as much as anyone else .
Let ’ s revisit our initial scenario , but this time utilizing proper precautions and nothing taken for granted . The patient sits down as you prepare to take a quick look at their feet . While you are donning your exam gloves , you ask the patient about their recent health and wellness . Their answer alerts you and allows you to inquire further about length of time since discharge , current treatment and progress of the cellulitis . You contain the area in which you are conducting your examination and take special precautions with all equipment and the examination area . Upon the completion of your brief evaluation , all exam materials used are thrown away and equipment and hands are washed and equipment is decontaminated .
Essentially , this is the same procedure you should always follow with every patient providing you and your colleagues a healthy and safe work place , and providing your patients and clients a protected environment to seek your help . ■
Approximately one third of healthcare acquired infections are preventable . However , according to the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths ( RID ), a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives , hospital and practitioner infections kill more Americans each year than AIDS , breast cancer and auto accidents combined .
Jay Zaffater , C . Ped . graduated from Louisiana Tech in 1989 and was a high school teacher for five years . He currently works as a Clinical Pedorthist in North Louisiana and has practiced as a Certified Pedorthist for eight years . Currently he serves as Secretary on the Executive Council for the PFA , and is a frequent contributor to Current Pedorthics . Jay resides in Shreveport , Louisiana with his wife and three children .
30 Pedorthic Footcare Association www . pedorthics . org