SAFETY, SECURITY, AND EMERGENCY PLANS IN THE MEDICAL OFFICE Chapter 10, Unit 1

A SAFE ENVIRONMENT  It takes effort to ensure a medical office has a protective, healthy environment  The medical assistant is responsible for:  Recognizing any safety, security, or operational hazards  Helping to eliminate it  Warning coworkers and patients of any dangers

SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT  Physician’s office environment must ensure the health and safety of:  Physician and staff  Patients  People accompanying patients  Refers to physical surroundings, general maintenance, condition of equipment, and procedures used to control presence of harmful microorganisms (Infection Control)

SAFETY IN THE WORK PLACE ENVIRONMENT  To protect employers and employees, federal and state agencies established guidelines to reduce disease transmission  U.S. Department of Labor  Occupational Safety and Health Administration  Provide employees with a safe working environment  Protect them from harmful substances and exposure  i.e. Providing gloves

SAFETY IN THE WORK PLACE ENVIRONMENT  U.S. Public Health Department  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  CDC collects data on pathogens/diseases and establishes guidelines to prevent their spread  Established guidelines to deal with blood/body fluids – universal precautions  New guidelines (Standard Precautions) combine principles of universal precautions with recommendations of PPE to provide protection from ALL body fluids, weather blood is present or not

SAFETY IN THE RECEPTION ROOM  Safe environment begins at the front door  Reception room needs a safety check every morning  Observe condition of furniture  Check the state of the electrical cords.  Look for burned-out light bulbs. (Adequate lighting)  Check the condition of the carpet and make sure the aisles are clear.  Magazines and toys can lead to trip and fall injuries.

SAFETY IN THE BUSINESS OFFICE  Pay attention to file and cabinet doors  NEVER open more than 1 file cabinet drawer at a time  Electrical cords must be kept behind desks/furniture  Equipment must be in proper working order

SAFETY IN THE EXAM ROOM  Exam table must be cleaned after each use  Table must operate properly  Assist patient on and off table  Keeps things that can be broken/contaminated out of sight  Prescription pads should not be left out

SAFETY RAILS AND FLOOR COVERINGS  Handrails in hallways and bathrooms are used to assist elderly or less mobile patients  Make sure floors are clear of any objects (rugs)

SAFETY IN THE LAB AREA  Chemicals must be properly labeled  Could become volatile when kept beyond their expiration date  Biohazard containers must be available for blood/urine samples

PERSONAL SAFETY  You must be responsible for your own safety  Act as though every patient is infected  Appropriate use of gloves, face shields, masks, gloves and gowns

SPILLS/DROPPED OBJECTS  Clean up spilled liquids immediately  When spills involve body fluids, be sure to wear gloves and dispose in a biohazard bag  Glass is best swept up with a broom and wrapped in newspaper/cardboard as to not puncture a plastic bag

FIRE SAFETY  PREVENTION!  Heat, Fuel, Oxygen  Could be caused by defective outlets or frayed wires  Coffee pots  Facility should have its own evacuation plan  RACE  PASS

NATURAL DISASTERS  Emergency plans should be reviewed at office meetings  People who know what to do during an emergency have a much greater chance of surviving

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS  A list of emergency phone numbers should be kept by the phone for quick access  Police  Fire  EMS  Poison control  Building security  Utility companies  Hospital ER  Hospital Admissions staff