Regulatory information

Hopital and EMS Regulations for contaminated patient care equipment!

New CDC Recommendations for COVID 19 Decontamination of EMS Equipment: Click Here

Cleaning EMS Transport Vehicles after Transporting a PUI or Patient with Confirmed COVID-19. 

The following are general guidelines for cleaning or maintaining EMS transport vehicles and equipment after transporting a PUI: After transporting the patient, leave the rear doors of the transport vehicle open to allow for sufficient air changes to remove potentially infectious particles. The time to complete transfer of the patient to the receiving facility and complete all documentation should provide sufficient air changes. When cleaning the vehicle, EMS clinicians should wear a disposable gown and gloves. A face shield or facemask and goggles should also be worn if splashes or sprays during cleaning are anticipated. Ensure that environmental cleaning and disinfection procedures are followed consistently and correctly, to include the provision of adequate ventilation when chemicals are in use. Doors should remain open when cleaning the vehicle. Routine cleaning and disinfection procedures (e.g., using cleaners and water to pre-clean surfaces prior to applying an EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant to frequently touched surfaces or objects for appropriate contact times as indicated on the product’s label) are appropriate for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in healthcare settings, including those patient-care areas in which aerosol-generating procedures are performed. Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims are recommended for use against SARS-CoV-2. Refer to. List Nexternal icon. on the EPA website for EPA-registered disinfectants that have qualified under EPA’s emerging viral pathogens program for use against SARS-CoV-2.Clean and disinfect the vehicle in accordance with standard operating procedures. All surfaces that may have come in contact with the patient or materials contaminated during patient care (e.g., stretcher, rails, control panels, floors, walls, work surfaces) should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected using an EPA-registered hospital grade disinfectant in accordance with the product label. Clean and disinfect reusable patient-care equipment before use on another patient, according to manufacturer’s instructions. Follow standard operating procedures for the containment and disposal of used PPE and regulated medical waste. Follow standard operating procedures for containing and laundering used linen. Avoid shaking the linen.

Article regarding Infection Control Practices

EMS Provider Compliance with Infection Control Recommendations Is Suboptimal

Posted online on January 8, 2014. (doi:10.3109/10903127.2013.851311), Bryan E. Bledsoe, DO ,Richard J. Sweeney, MD ,Ross P. Berkeley, MD ,Korey T. Cole, BS ,Wesley J. Forred, RN ,Larry D. Johnson, NRP

Received April 23, 2013 from the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Nevada School of Medicine (BEB, RJS, RPB, KTC, WJF, LDJ), and MedicWest Ambulance/AMR (LDJ), Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Revision received August 10, 2013; accepted for publication August 12, 2013.

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Bryan E. Bledsoe, DO, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Emergency Medicine,901 Rancho Lane, Suite 135, Las Vegas, NV 89106e-mail:bbledsoe@me.comAbstractIntroduction.Standard precautions are disease transmission prevention strategies recommended by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel are expected to utilize standard precautions. Methods. This was a prospective observational study of the use of standard precautions by EMS providers arriving at a large urban emergency department (ED). Research assistants (RAs) observed EMS crews throughout their arrival and delivery of patients and recorded data related to the use of gloves, hand hygiene, and equipment disinfection. Results. A total of 423 EMS deliveries were observed, allowing for observation of 899 EMS providers. Only 512 (56.9%) EMS providers arrived wearing gloves. Hand washing was observed in 250 (27.8%) of providers. Reusable equipment disinfection was noted in only 31.6% of opportunities. The most commonly disinfected item was the stretcher (55%).Conclusion. EMS provider compliance with standard precautions and equipment disinfection recommendations is suboptimal. Strategies must be developed to improve EMS provider compliance with internationally recognized infection control guidelines. Key words: Emergency medical services, hand washing, hygiene, disinfection, disease prevention.

Read More:http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/10903127.2013.851311See what OSHA has to say about the employers responsibility for decontaminating EMS equipment: US Department of Labor, OSHA, Letter From OSHA to Katherine West, BSN/MSEd/CICCode of Federal Regulations regarding decontamination of contaminated Hospital/EMS/Fire equipment and other applicable employers.CFR1910.1030(d)(2)(xi). 

All procedures involving blood or other potentially infectious materials shall be performed in such a manner as to minimize splashing, spraying, spattering, and generation of droplets of these substances. If you are hand cleaning EMS equipment it must be done with minimal spray and splatter!CFR1910.1030(e)(2)(ii)(B). Contaminated materials that are to be decontaminated at a site away from the work area shall be placed in a durable, leak proof, labeled or color-coded container that is closed before being removed from the work area. If you are storing contaminated equipment for EMS to pick up you have follow these guidelines, bag it and tag it! 

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