As a working medical professional that is responsible for instrument cleaning and sterilization, there is nothing more important than knowing your space to work is clean and all tools are properly sterilized. The sterilization process may differ depending on what is being sterilized, but the...
Standard precautions are a set of practices required to achieve the basic level of infection control. They're measures that apply to all individuals, whether or not they seem symptomatic. Standard precautions use personal protective equipment (PPE) and common-sense practices to protect healthcare workers from infections...
Knowing the proper methods to prevent infections is of immense help in fighting the spread of diseases. Infection prevention and control applies a risk management technique to stop or reduce infection transmission. Standard and transmission-based are two methods that offer a high level of protection...
You likely were taught the phrase “Stop, drop, and roll” as a child. From a young age, teachers and firefighters educated us on the importance of taking care of ourselves if our bodies’ caught on fire. Just like there is an established plan of action...
Outpatient surgeries are prevalent in the healthcare field. Medical professionals at outpatient centers, or ambulatory centers, perform a variety of ambulatory surgical procedures. The benefits of ambulatory settings are ample; they’re affordable, offer accessible scheduling, and allow patients to recover in the comfort of their...
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have made convenient surgery possible in the United States. These centers are popular, with ASC healthcare staff members treating numerous patients per day. Efficiency is the name of the game in ASCs so that providers can better maximize case volume and...
The number of outpatient surgical procedures in the U.S. is expected to climb to 144 million per year by 2023. Additionally, more than 48 million inpatient surgical procedures are performed in hospitals annually. The tremendous growth in surgical cases leaves room for infections if hospitals...
When undergoing a hospital renovation or construction project, it’s crucial to consider infection control when making design decisions. Poor design can lead to higher infection rates, accreditation survey citations, and decreased hospital efficiency. You’ll want to hire an infection control consultant who can offer expert...
Medicine and medical processes have come a long way throughout history. It has been 3,000 years since Egyptians began preserving their dead using antiseptic materials they had readily available. Since then, our medical processes have progressed from leeches and crude saws to anesthesia and antibiotics....