. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
APPLY PRINCIPLES OF ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE AND INFECTION CONTROL
Infection control is one of the most important tasks a medical assistant (MA) undertakes. Each year, thousands of Americans, including many health care employees, become ill from infections contracted in medical settings, especially hospitals. Proper hand washing, use of gloves, establishing a sterile field, proper disposal of soiled or used supplies, and proper preparation of the patient’s skin for procedures can greatly reduce this risk.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH CARE TEAM
The MA is a valuable member in ensuring that infection control is maintained in the ambulatory health care setting. Hand sanitization and maintaining an organized and neat workspace can also contribute to keeping everyone in the office safe from infection. Both administrative and clinical personnel in the office have an important role in this endeavor. Ensuring the use of antibacterial sanitizer throughout the day, even in areas other than patient examination rooms, can cut down on the transmission of bacteria or viruses.
For example, if a patient who has been coughing in the waiting room asks to use the telephone, discreetly sanitize it after he or she uses it to prevent the spread of airborne pathogens. The choice of sanitizer may depend on the nature of the practice. Unscented sanitizers in wipe form may be preferred to aerosol sanitizer because of patients who have asthma, upper respiratory and lung problems, or allergies to perfumes. Employees who work with you may also have allergies to perfumes; remember to be conscientious of their workspace as well.
Sanitizing the following items will help keep germs from being transmitted from one person to another:
• Telephones that have multiple people using them
• Faucets to sinks in all areas
• Door handles
• Ink pens that patients use when checking in and out
Although housekeeping responsibilities are usually taken care of when patients are not in the office and staff has gone home for the day, infection control is the responsibility of every member of the staff and should be taken seriously. Ensuring that your work space is neat, organized, and “clutter free” will help with this endeavor.
The following four procedures, in addition to hand sanitization before and after each contact with a patient, are key to proper infection control:
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1. Remove all jewelry and store in a secure place.
2. Open package of sterile towels.
3. Using foot controls, regulate water to a comfort ably warm temperature and rinse hands and fore- arms, holding them upright at or above waist level.
4. Clean under and around nails with brush or wooden orange stick. Apply adequate soap and scrub one hand and forearm and then the other, fingertips up, with a surgical scrub brush for at least 3 minutes. Lather and scrub without touching faucet or sink.
5. Discard brush. Rinse hands and forearms thoroughly, holding hands and arms up.
6. If using foot or elbow controls, turn off water; otherwise, leave water running for someone else to turn off. Hold hands above waist.
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