Home Health Infection Control Program Essentials
As part of the home health conditions of participation home health agencies must have a robust infection control program aimed at preventing and controlling infections and communicable diseases. § 484.70 Condition of participation: Infection prevention and control is an area of focus for many home health surveyors. Home health agencies should incorporate the infection control program as part of the QAPI program with a plan for routine surveillance in place to track infections and follow up with appropriate actions.
Home health agencies may reference the CDC guidelines related to infection control when developing policies and providing staff training.
Home health clinicians are often faced with challenges within patient homes that make following infection control guidelines difficult, however, proper training, routine practice and consistent focus on these areas provide clinicians with the tools that they need for success. Key areas of focus when training home health staff include hand hygiene and proper bag technique. Ensuring routine check-offs and staff training related to these topics will assist your agency in survey preparation and avoiding deficiencies.
Agencies must provide routine surveillance related to infections within their agencies. Key areas of focus include respiratory infections, urinary tract infections and wound infections. Development of audit tools and utilization of internal reporting mechanisms will assist in effectively tracking and trending repeat or potentially problematic infections. For example, if your agency notes frequent UTIs, are they associated with foley patients? This could queue your agency to focus on foley catheter care and additional training related to foley catheter changes and care as part of the plan of correction. Need additional support related to your agency’s infection control program? Contact Proactive today!
Written By:
Nichole McClain, RN
Principal Consultant of Home Health Services
Proactive Medical Review
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