“Home Health Care Consultants | Clinical Handwashing Procedure” starts with the importance of universal precautions. Handwashing is critical for the caregiver.
This is the first step in avoiding contamination by way of bloodborne pathogens and other diseases. So, it’s important to place emphasis on it, especially in a healthcare setting.
Home Health Care Clinical | Universal Precautions
Home Health Care Clinical include several protocols caregivers must follow while giving care to patients. And, handwashing is one of those that require careful attention.
Hence, Universal Precautions are guidelines to prevent transmission of bloodborne pathogens. This is when individuals are exposed to blood and other potentially infections materials. These are also referred to as OPIM.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated universal precautions to protect workers from getting infectious diseases. OSHA is another organization involved in making regulations to protect workers.
Some of these diseases include Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Also, Human Blood Virus (HBV) and other body fluids. All such fluids are to be treated as though they were infectious.
As a result, this would help to minimize any possible risks. Prevention is better than cure. It’s also important to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). This provides further protection for workers.
There are other precautions such as standard precautions (SP) and transmission-based precautions (TBP). And, together they help to offer more protection to caregivers and other workers.
Handwashing Procedure | Step by Step
Handwashing is a simple procedure. However, people often take it for granted. For that reason, they wash their hands hurriedly without paying attention to details.
Here’s a general guideline for basic handwashing:
- First, turn on the water using a barrier such as a paper towel. Then discard the barrier.
- Next, wet your hands and apply soap.
- Lather your hands paying attention to front and back, between fingers, and nail bed of each finger.
- Also, use your thumbnails to clean underneath each nail.
- Continue by scrubbing the palm of your hands with the tips of your fingers.
- Then wash your wrists. All of this should take at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse each hand separately by holding it under running water.
- Afterwards, dry each hand beginning from your fingertips. Use a separate paper towel for each hand.
- Finally, use a new barrier to turn off the water and discard the barrier. The overall procedure should take a minimum of 35 seconds.
It’s important to keep your fingers lower than your wrists. Also, make sure to limit the paper towel to the clean areas of your hands when drying. This will help to prevent contamination.
In addition, avoid further contamination of your hands by not touching your clothes, tap, sink, and other surfaces.
Home Health Setting | Patient Care
It’s important to take special care in the home to ensure everyone stays safe from infectious diseases. These can easily pass from caregiver to patient and vice versa.
So, don’t let your guard down because you’re in a familiar setting. That’s never a good idea because germs are no respecter of persons. Therefore, we have to do our best to stay on top of our hand hygiene health.
You may find that some clients and patients have no concern for hygiene in any way. It’s up to you to lead the way in that regard by setting an example.
If your patients are reluctant or unable to wash their hands, encourage them to use wipes. Eventually, they may see the importance of keeping their hands clean. But, this may not be an easy task as some people are set in their ways.
However, you must make an effort to protect yourself and others in the environment.
In like manner, promote overall hygienic conditions by keeping your work area sanitized. For example, ensure surfaces are wiped clean in between procedures such as personal care and eating.
Look out for soiled areas from fecal matter and other debris. Be sure to sanitize and disinfect even if there are no visible signs of contamination. Remember, germs are not always visible to the naked eye.
Health Care Concerns | Contagious Infections
Let’s take a closer look at a scenario. For example, someone may become contaminated by another person with an infectious disease.
We’ll continue to keep our focus on the home health care setting. However, some infections are brought into the home from facilities where a caregiver also works.
Similarly, a caregiver may infect their own household. This could happen by taking home contamination on their bodies, clothing or equipment.
Sebastian is a medical technician at a hospital where he attends to patients Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm. In addition, he goes to Charles’ home to assist him on those same days from 6pm to 10pm.
So, what’s the possibility of Sebastian transferring an infectious disease to Charles after leaving the hospital? Likewise, how possible is it that he further contaminates his home?
Charles has to be careful in following proper handwashing procedures. He should also wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary.
Furthermore, he should consider changing his clothes at the end of his shift at the hospital before going to Charles. These precautions would help to minimize the possibility of spreading contamination.
Wrap Up | Handwashing Procedure
Handwashing is a very important clinical procedure. It’s a way of protecting everyone in an environment from the risk of infectious diseases.
In addition, it’s a requirement for caregivers to follow universal precautions at all times.
The Home Health Care Consultants Office Affairs Manager Unit in this prototype series provides training for staff regularly. And, health care agencies usually offer continuing training to their caregivers.
In light of this, they expect them to be well informed in these matters. Additionally, certified nursing assistants and others take courses every two years to maintain their licenses. And, each state has its own requirements.
I hope you found “Home Health Care Consultants | Clinical Handwashing Procedure” interesting. If you have a personal story to share as a caregiver we would love to hear from you.
And, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. I’ll be more than happy to assist you.
Veron
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