Annual In-Service

The commitment of The Care Group / Reach Therapy is to provide high quality, state of the art, outcome-oriented health care to patients requiring specialized

nursing, adult and pediatric rehabilitation services, adult nursing services, durable medical equipment, or respiratory therapy services in the home or other

alternative sites.

The commitment shared by every employee of The Care Group / Reach Therapy is to strive daily for performance improvement, clinical superiority, the highest

standards of patient care, and customer service excellence.

Mission Statement

Purpose of In-ServiceEnsure ongoing training and development for all personnel to maintain competence. This also includes annual continuing education and training for all personnel.

Policy Number: HHA 8-001.1Policy Number: HHA 9-001.4

TopicsEnvironmental SafetyEquipment ManagementUtilities ManagementSecurityInfection ControlHazardous

Materials/WastesEmergency PreparednessFire Safety

Environmental Safety

Back SafetyPreventing Slips, Trips, and FallsUnsafe Practices

“All personnel will be responsible for recognizing and avoiding unsafe conditions, as well as controlling or eliminating any hazards or exposure to injury.”Policy Number: HHA 8-002.1

Back SafetyThere is one important rule:

“THINK BEFORE YOU LIFT”

In lifting, you are the major cause of your injuries; therefore, you have the major responsibility for preventing them.

Back Safety - Moving MaterialsTo pick up a low load:Drop to one knee and lift the load to balance

it on your other knee.Pause, adjust your grip and lift to standing,

holding the load as close to your body as possible.

As you rise, lift your head and your back will maintain its neutral curves.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

Watch where you walkDo not allow cabling to create a tripping

hazardClean up spills quicklyDo not block passagewaysKeep office areas cleanKeep stacking and storage areas safePick up objects that fall

Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls

Unsafe PracticesStacking and Storage

Boxes, files, and other articles must NOT be stacked on top of cabinets, cupboards, or window sills

Keep passages clear and fire fighting equipment unobstructed

Light objects are stored in top drawers and heavy objects in the bottom – also in filing cabinets

Filing CabinetsClose the drawersDo not open all drawers at the same timeUse the handle to close the drawer

Equipment Management

Office Machines

“All personnel will be knowledgeable regarding equipment management and safety.”

Policy Number: HHA 8-005.1

Office MachinesIf you see smoke or sparks, unplug it

immediately and report it Place a sign on the machine indicating to

others that it is out of orderLearn how to operate them safely before

you use them

Utilities Management

Electrical Safeguarding

“All personnel will be knowledgeable of the principles of electrical safety and utilities management.”

Policy Number: HHA 8-004.1

Electrical SafeguardingCables

Loose lying cables can cause tripping hazards, electrocution, and damage to expensive equipment

Do not overload socketsTurn equipment off before unpluggingIt is your responsibility to report cable problems to

your supervisor to have them fixed

Security

Personal Safety

“Self protection to enhance personal safety is the responsibility of all personnel.”

Policy Number: HHA 8-012.1

Personal SafetyKnow exactly where you are going before

you leaveAlways keep car doors lockedCarry your keys in your hand

You can use them as a method of self-defenseQuick access into your car

Stay near groups of peopleBe aware of your surroundings

“The Care Group of Texas / Reach Therapy is committed to reducing and minimizing employee exposure to infections in the workplace…Employees of The Care Group of Texas / Reach Therapy must assume responsibility to avail themselves of required personal protective equipment and to implement appropriate workplace controls.”Policy Number: HHA 9-001.1

Bloodborne PathogensHepatitis B VaccinationUniversal PrecautionsPersonal Protective EquipmentHand Washing

Bloodborne Pathogen DiseasesMalariaBrucellosisSyphilisHepatitis B(HBV)Hepatitis C(HCV)Human

Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Hepatitis B VaccinationStrongly endorsed by

medical communitiesThe Care Group / Reach

Therapy offers the Hepatitis B Vaccine to all employees who have patient contact at no cost

If you have patient contact and would like to receive the Hepatitis B Vaccine, make the HR Department or supervisor aware of your request

Universal PrecautionsIsolate- separate yourself from contamination

with a “barrier”Remove- dispose of potentially contaminated

wasteDecontaminate- apply disinfectant to stop

contamination from going furtherSafety Awareness- watch for potential

hazards and source of contaminationImmunizationsImmunizations prevent infection. The CDC recommends that you be immunized against hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, and chicken pox.

Personal Protective Equipment

Anything that is used to protect a person from exposure

Latex or Nitrile gloves, goggles, CPR mouth barriers, aprons, and respirators

“TCG / Reach Therapy will supply and make accessible appropriate personal protective equipment consistent with the tasks being performed…Employees of TCG / Reach Therapy must assume responsibility to avail themselves of required personal equipment.” Policy Number: HHA 9-006.1

Hand WashingHand washing is the single most important precaution

against the spread of infection.• Use antibacterial soap (if possible)• Scrub hands for 10 – 15 seconds, washing all surfaces

thoroughly• Rinse using warm water and dry hands with a clean towel• If no hand washing facilities are available, come prepared

with a waterless hand washing agent.• Always wash hands…

• Immediately before and after patient contact• Every time you remove gloves• After using the restroom• Before you eat• Immediately following any obvious contaminations

Infection Control Plan• Follow your agency’s Infection Control Program. This battle plan includes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) bloodborne pathogen standards, OSHA’s tuberculosis control guidelines, and isolation precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

• The Care Group / Reach Therapy Infection Control Program includes: surveillance of infection trends; identification of types and sources of infections; prevention of infections; control measures to discourage the spread of infection; and reporting of any infections to the appropriate agencies.

Hazardous Materials/Wastes

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Hazardous Waste DisposalAccident/Incident Reporting

“To ensure the protection of agency personnel, patients, families/caregivers, and the community through proper handling of contaminated waste.”Policy Number: HHA 8-011.1

OSHAOSHA’s Hazardous Communication

To ensure that employers and employees know about work hazards and how to protect themselves so that the incidence of illnesses and injuries due to hazardous chemicals is reduced.

Hazardous Chemicals Must Include Labels which Indicate:

The identity of the chemicalAppropriate hazard warningName and address of the responsible partyPolicy Number: HHA 9-013.1

Hazardous Waste DisposalAlways where gloves when handling hazardous

wastesContaminated Paper Wastes: Place and secure in a

plastic bag. Double bag and, if possible, place in a plastic trash container which is labeled appropriately.

Sharps: Needles, syringes, and razor blades should be placed in a puncture proof container and labeled as contaminated waste. The container should be bagged, secured, and returned to the office for appropriate disposal. NEVER recap, break, or bend needles.

Blood and Bodily Fluids: Pour down the toilet and immediately flush. Care should be taken to avoid splashing.

Policy Number: HHA 9-011.1

Accident/Incident ReportingEmployees are required to

immediately report all work related injuries to their supervisor.

State law and TCG/Reach Policy requires that injuries be reported in writing within twenty-four hours. Use the Accident/ Incident form to report all injuries.

During orientation employees signed acknowledgment of TCG/Reach Therapy Worker’s Compensation Network. If you did not receive this information, please contact the HR department.

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness PlanOn-Call

“To establish a plan which will allow for the continuation of services in the event of a major disaster.”

Policy Number: HHA 8-016.1

“The agency has developed the following emergency preparedness plan for providing continuing patient care and support at a safe and therapeutic level in the event of a natural disaster...” Policy Number: HHA 8-016.1

Emergency Preparedness Plan

An alternate site will be designated in the event the office must be evacuated or is not accessible due to an emergency.

Clinical supervisors will be responsible for triaging all patient care.

In all emergency situations, the Administrator or designee will maintain communications and act as the spokesperson between other facilities, media, and safety authorities.

On-CallOn call personnel are on a twenty-four hour

paging system through the answering service.A current patient list with telephone numbers,

addresses, and discipline types will be maintained by the Administrator on-call.

In the event that a disaster or emergency takes place, the Administrator on-call will attempt to contact all clinical supervisors, who will in turn attempt to contact all patients that are involved in the potential disaster areas.

When a patient is contacted, the patient’s immediate needs will be identified and documented.

Policy Number: HHA 8-016.A

Fire SafetyTypes of FiresTypes of Fire ExtinguishersExtinguisher UseFire Escapes

“To delineate the fire response process for the agency office.”

Policy Number: HHA 8-003.1

Types of Fires

Class A - Wood, paper, cloth, trash

Class B - Flammable liquids, oil, gas, grease

Class C - Electrical, energized electrical equipment

Types of ExtinguishersAll Purpose Water ExtinguisherUse on CLASS A fires

Wood, paper, cloth, and trash

Carbon Dioxide ExtinguisherUse on CLASS B and CLASS C fires

– Flammable liquids, oil, gas, grease

– Electrical, energized electrical equipment

Dry Chemical ExtinguisherUse on CLASS A, CLASS B, and CLASS C

fires

– Wood, paper, cloth, and trash

– Flammable liquids, oil, gas, grease

– Electrical, energized electrical equipment

PASS – Use of Fire ExtinguisherAlways remember PASS when using

a fire extinguisher. The following are guidelines for using a fire extinguisher on a small fire:

• P – Pull the pin from the handle

• A – Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire

• S - Squeeze the handle to activate the extinguisher

• S – Sweep the nozzle on the base of the fire until the fire is out, stop.

Fire EscapeGuidelines for reacting to the discovery of fire;

remember RACE in case of fire:

• R – Rescue – Rescue people in immediate danger if you can do so without putting your life in fear.

• A – Alarm – Activate the alarm from a pull station near you and call 911 or other emergency rescue team.

• C – Confine – Close windows, doors, and other openings, if you can do so safely.

• E – Evacuate – Evacuate the building as soon as you can by going to the closest exit.

All employees are responsible for understanding and complying with The Care Group / Reach Therapy policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are found in Forms on Augusta (J)/Archive/Policy/Home Health Policies and Procedures Current.

Once you have reviewed the Annual In-Service PowerPoint, complete the Annual In-Service Quiz and submit it to Jessica Coleman via e-mail jcoleman@caregrp.com or fax 713-383-2113. All employees are required to take the Annual In-Service Quiz and send it no later than June 15, 2012.

Disclaimer

Quiz