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Colorado State University, Global Campus *
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515
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Health Science
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Feb 20, 2024
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Risk Management Plan: Infectious Disease
Catherine Guerrero
CSU Global
HCM 515: Health Law & Ethics
Dr. Borges
14 January 2024
Risk Management Plan: Infectious Disease
In the constantly changing world of healthcare, the effective management of infectious diseases within healthcare facilities is very important to safeguard the well-being of patients, healthcare professionals, and our local community. This in-depth risk management plan has been thoroughly developed to address the complicated challenges posed by infectious diseases in our facility. By undertaking a thorough risk assessment, implementing detailed infection prevention and control measures, and fostering collaboration with public health authorities, this plan endeavors to create a resilient framework capable of responding adequately to the nature of infectious disease threats. From stringent surveillance and monitoring practices to a well-defined communication plan, each element of this strategy is geared towards not only mitigating risks but also ensuring the continuous enhancement of our facility's ability to navigate and manage infectious diseases effectively. Through education, preparedness, and a commitment to constant improvement, we aspire to strengthen our healthcare facility against the challenges posed by infectious diseases, contributing to a safer and healthier environment for all.
Infection prevention and control measures are on the top of our list for the facility’s plan. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention outlines specific criteria to be met for legal compliance. At the core of infection prevention and control are basic protocols like proper hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and establishing guidelines for the medical team and patients/visitors to see and follow. Hand washing is not a new concept and even dates to the 19
th
century where it was found to reduce the risk of fatal fevers and maternal deaths. (Mathur, 2011). Education is vital in our facility as we cannot reasonably expect all our patients to understand the proper
protocol for hand washing. We must be responsible for ensuring posters are present in treatment rooms
as well as common areas to remind medical staff and patients alike to properly wash their hands. Furthermore, we cannot forget the importance of PPE while working with patients, particularly ones with infectious diseases. Enforcing standard use of gloves and masks can greatly reduce the spread of highly contagious illnesses such as COVID-19. (Verbeek, et al., 2020). It should be common knowledge that our staff are at a greater risk of contracting infectious diseases due to the nature of our work. We must not allow negligence to hinder our performance. It is an unfortunate aspect of life, but we must recognize the millions of people who are affected
by infectious diseases. Over 40 million people are diagnosed with HIV alone. (Brandeau, et al., 2003). With this information alone, it is reasonable to assume the level of difficulty is high to have enough resources to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases. As a healthcare facility, we must take into consideration our resource management protocols and how we ought to prioritize where/when to send funds. While we understand that supplies are necessary to prevent the further spread of infectious diseases, we are choosing to focus on one aspect of the topic: preventing further spread. During COVID-
19, we saw through social distancing and masks, we helped prevent the spread in a small way. An overlooked resource we may not always consider is our medical personnel at the facility. This brings us back to our first point of risk management and that is the use of proper hand hygiene and wearing our personal protective equipment. These are resources we have available to us at little to no costs and should be used effectively.
A communication plan is a vital part of infectious disease management. It not only provides a format for disseminating accurate information, but also serves as a tool for promoting public understanding, cooperation, and trust during challenging times. Infectious diseases have been around for centuries and will continue to be around until the end of time, it is only a matter of ‘when’ the next infectious disease will happen. (Snell, 2017). Communication is such an imperative tool when dealing with such events, the CDC has developed a guide on how to communicate effectively. Communication
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should be timely, accurate and effective when discussing these matters with the public. (Snell, 2017). Remember when news of COVID-19 first hit the news? The mass hysteria ensued before the public even understood what this virus entailed. As a professional healthcare organization, we ought to be publishing accurate information and should behave as the professionals we are. This means we will not publish false information and if we are uncertain of the answers, that is the best information to state. (Snell, 2017). It is better if we are open about the information and research done thus far than to lie and lose the public’s trust. Lastly, Snell recommends eliminating the phrase “out of an abundance of caution” from our repertoire. This can signal there are no scientific based courses of action in situations. (Snell, 2017). We are to remain firm in our recommendations and only prescribe necessary precautions through our communications.
There will be times our facility is inundated with infectious disease and our visitor policies will increase to appropriate levels. Family and friends amongst other visitors to hospitals including patient transporters, delivery drivers and contractors can be potential risks for bringing in unknown infectious diseases. (Sfeir et al., 2017). While there are no specific laws, the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America has given directions (Sfeir et al., 2017) that our facility will use in our risk management plan. Of course, as we’ve discussed proper hand washing protocols are strictly enforced throughout all departments of our hospital and we will display posters outlining details. Additionally, if a patient is diagnosed or suspected of having an infectious disease, we enforce the use of PPE and limit individuals' access to the patient’s room, this includes visitors. (Sfeir et al., 2017). Specific criteria can be met for patients to have family visit the room, but they will comply with healthcare worker’s standards of PPE. For instance, the CDC recommends only allowing family visits for the emotional well-being of patients diagnosed with seasonal Influenza. Through strict adherence to these mentioned guidelines, we can ensure we are properly measuring patient safety and minimizing risk to the public.
In conclusion, the development and implementation of robust risk management plans are imperative in infectious diseases. These plans serve as an important framework that addresses the complex challenges posed by outbreaks. By incorporating these guidelines thorough risk assessment, infection prevention and control measures, training, and continuous improvement, these plans not only enhance the preparedness of healthcare facilities but also contribute to the overall resilience of public health systems. Effective resource management, clear communication strategies, and visitor management protocols are integral components that bolster the efficacy of risk management plans. In the face of evolving infectious threats, these plans provide a structured and adaptable approach, enabling timely responses, reducing transmission risks, and safeguarding the well-being of individuals and communities. Through their comprehensive nature, risk management plans play a pivotal role in not
only mitigating the impact of infectious diseases but also in fostering a proactive and resilient healthcare
environment.
References
Brandeau, M. L., Zaric, G. S., & Richter, A. (2003). Resource allocation for control of infectious diseases in multiple independent populations: beyond cost-effectiveness analysis. Journal of health economics, 22(4), 575–598. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-6296(03)00043-2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.) Hand Hygiene Guidance. https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/providers/guideline.html
Mathur P. (2011). Hand hygiene: back to the basics of infection control. The Indian journal of medical research, 134(5), 611–620. https://doi.org/10.4103/0971-5916.90985
Sell T. K. (2017). When the Next Disease Strikes: How To Communicate (and How Not To). Health
security, 15(1), 28–30. https://doi.org/10.1089/hs.2016.0100
Sfeir, M., Simon, M. S., & Banach, D. (2017). Isolation Precautions for Visitors to Healthcare Settings. Infection Prevention: New Perspectives and Controversies, 19–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60980-5_4
Verbeek, J. H., Rajamaki, B., Ijaz, S., Sauni, R., Toomey, E., Blackwood, B., Tikka, C., Ruotsalainen, J. H., & Kilinc Balci, F. S. (2020). Personal protective equipment for preventing highly infectious diseases due to exposure to contaminated body fluids in healthcare staff. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 4(4), CD011621. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011621.pub4
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