Each hospice shall develop an infection control program which protects patients, family and personnel from nosocomial or community acquired infections.
A. The hospice shall develop and use a coordinated process that effectively reduces the risk of endemic and epidemic nosocomial infections in patients, health care workers and visitors.
B. It shall be the duty of the Administrator or his/her designee to report all known infectious or communicable diseases as required by Ark. Code Ann. ยง 20-7-109 to the Arkansas Department of Health, Division of Epidemiology.
C. There shall be policies and procedures establishing and defining a comprehensive Infection Control program to include:
1. Provisions for education of universal precautions to patients, families, and hospice employees including but not limited to:
a) Hand hygiene including procedures for soap and water as well as alcohol based hand rub if used;
b) Disinfections;
c) Liquid and solid waste disposal of infectious waste;
d) Needle disposal; and
e) Other means of limiting the spread of contagion.
2. A plan for monitoring and evaluating all aseptic and sanitation techniques employed in the hospice to ensure that approved infection control procedures are followed.
D. There shall be an orientation program for all new health care workers concerning the importance of infection control and each health care worker's responsibility in the infection control program.
E. There shall be a plan for each employee to receive annual in-services and educational programs as indicated based on assessments of the infection control process.
F. No items shall be used past the expiration date.
G. One-time patient care items shall not be reused.
Credits
Amended May 1, 2010; Sept. 29, 2022.
Current with amendments received through February 15, 2024. Some sections may be more current, see credit for details.
Ark. Admin. Code 007.05.16-10, AR ADC 007.05.16-10
