Cover Your Cough: Stop the Spread of Germs
It is October, and depending on where you are, there may be a chill in the air and sniffles everywhere! In fact, many states have already reported positive influenza cases which follows the typical outbreak pattern. Influenza cases typically peak between the months of December through February. The time is now to prepare your facility, […]
Dental Antibiotics and C diff
The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) is raising the alarm about antibiotics prescribed by dentists and a possible connection to rising cases of Clostridium difficile. Researchers from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) conducted a study and found that 15% of the patients diagnosed with community-associated C difficile infection (CA CDI) between […]
TMC Automates OSHA Compliance Audits with Mi-Platform
Goes from Paper to Mobile in Less than 90 Days with an Automated Auditing Process Total Medical Compliance (TMC) provides compliance consulting to the healthcare marketplace including HIPAA training, OSHA training, and Infection Control programs for medical and dental practices. When TMC needed a partner to upgrade its paper-based auditing processes and provide an […]
Slow Speed Dental Handpieces
In March of 2016, the CDC added a supplemental document to the 2003 Dental Infection Control Guidelines regarding sterilization of handpieces. This is not a new rule. Dental handpieces and associated attachments, including low-speed motors that can be removed from the air/water lines and reusable prophylaxis angles, should always be heat sterilized between patients and […]
Failures in stethoscope hygiene can lead to patient infections
Hand hygiene has received much more attention than stethoscope hygiene, but microbiology data shows that stethoscope contamination after a single exam is comparable to that of the physician’s dominant hand. Infection control guidelines from the CDC state that re-usable medical equipment, such as stethoscopes, must undergo disinfection between patients with alcohol swabs, alcohol gel, or […]
OSAP Diversifies Board Strength and Acumen
July 6, 2017 (ATLANTA, GA) — The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), a community of clinicians, educators, consultants, researchers and industry representatives who advocate for safe and infection-free delivery of oral healthcare, has announced the members of the 2017-2018 OSAP Board of Directors and the 2017-2018 OSAP Foundation Board of Directors. The new […]
No More Bugs – Part 1
Infection Control – Back to Basics! Infection prevention and control is more than the sum of a task list, appropriate equipment, and written policies and procedures. They are all important elements and the foundation of a strong infection control program and a culture of safety for every healthcare environment. From leader to volunteers, everyone must […]
Safe Injection Practices
A medical facility that specialized in treating knee pain, in Wall, New Jersey voluntarily closed its doors in March 2017 after at least 30 patients developed infections. The cause of the infections was improperly handled injections. Don’t let this happen to you! Follow safe injection practices to avoid patient infection. For the full story, follow […]
Sending the Right Message: A Safety Checklist
First impressions count, and the way your office appears to patients, potential new employees or OSHA inspectors, should send the right message. Using a safety checklist can help. Does your practice look well-organized, efficient, and safety centered? The next time you enter your office, walk in the front door and visualize the space as a […]
Is Our Facility Required to Use Engineered Safety Devices?
Looking for more information on using engineered safety devices? We get a lot of questions at TMC about the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) standard requirement to use engineering controls, specifically sharps with engineered sharps protection often referred to as safety devices. Here are some specifics and resources you might find helpful if you are looking […]