ucp central pa policy and procedures for minimizing the...

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UCP Central PA

Policy and Procedures For Minimizing the Risk of Spreading Infectious Disease

Effective 04/01/2010; Revised 05/01/13

Policy Statement and General Overview ................................................................. 2 Residential and Day Program Standard & Contact Precaution Policies .................... 4 Hand Washing /Use of Hand Sanitizer ........................................................... 4 Proper Hand Washing Procedure .................................................................. 5 Disposable Gloves, Other Protective Barriers ................................................ 6 Cleaning of Surfaces, Equipment/Food Handling and Preparation ................ 6 Toileting and Changing Routines ................................................................... 7 Contact Precautions-Day Program ................................................................ 9 Contact Precautions- Residential ................................................................. 10 Community Services Standard & Contact Precaution Policies ............................... 11 Hand Washing /Use of Hand Sanitizer ......................................................... 11 Proper Hand Washing Procedure ................................................................ 12 Disposable Gloves, Protective Barriers ........................................................ 12 Cleaning of Surfaces, Equipment/Food Handling and Preparation .............. 13 Maintaining Sanitary Conditions ................................................................. 13 Changing Routines ...................................................................................... 13 Contact Precautions .................................................................................... 14 Childhood Standard & Contact Precaution Policies ............................................... 15 Hand Washing /Use of Hand Sanitizer ......................................................... 15 Proper Hand Washing Procedure ................................................................ 15 Disposable Gloves, Other Protective Barriers .............................................. 17 Cleaning of Surfaces, Equipment/Food Handling and Preparation .............. 17 Toileting and Changing Routines ................................................................. 18 Contact Precautions .................................................................................... 20 Health Assessments .................................................................................... 21 Child Sick Policy ........................................................................................... 22 Assistive Technology Program ........................................................................... 24 Return to Work ..................................................................................................... 26 Safe Practices Regarding Needles .......................................................................... 28 Policy Sign Off ....................................................................................................... 31

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UCP CENTRAL PA Minimizing the Risk of Spreading Infectious Disease

T:\Secretary\Supv-Man\SectionII-Personnel\Part.3\Minimize spread of disease-revised-3-2013 2/1/2010; Revised 3/31/2010; Revised 4/1/2012; Revised 4/18/2013

PROCEDURE: Minimizing the Risk of Spreading NEW REVISED Infectious Disease; Return to Work remove previous version

SECTION (in manual): Section II; Part III APPROVED: __________________________________ EFFECTIVE DATE: 05/01/2013 PURPOSE: To assure a uniform, consistent process for adhering to strict standard and contact precautions to minimize the risk of spreading infectious disease, and as a protection for all consumers, staff, and families, who at anytime could come into contact with an infectious disease and not be aware. PROCEDURE: 1. All UCP work locations, including in consumers homes, will permit for the adherence to strict

standard and contact precautions by all UCP staff (including all administrative staff), volunteers, and visitors.

2. All supervisors will train staff regularly, at a minimum of at time of hire, and every six months

thereafter, on all standard and contact precautions. 3. The resources used to develop these policies and procedures include the Centers for Disease

Control (CDC), the PA Department of Health, local medical professionals including their Infection Control Department, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), licensing and accreditation entities, and members of our agency Programs and Services Committee.

4. All staff will follow the established agency-wide hand washing protocol.

All facilities will post signs, “ALL STAFF AND VISITORS MUST WASH HANDS UPON ENTERING ALL UCP CENTAL PA FACILITIES”.

All facility restrooms must have a sign posted, “ALL STAFF AND VISITORS MUST WASH HANDS BEFORE EXITING THE RESTROOM”.

Upon entering all UCP facilities, bathrooms, and classrooms all staff, consumers, and visitors MUST wash their hands.

Prior to exiting restrooms all MUST wash hands.

Facility managers ensure that required inspections occur, at a minimum twice a day, to ensure hand cleaning solutions, hand towels, and soap are stocked and working.

5. All locations will provide staff access to gloves, special masks, gowns, and hand cleaner/sanitizer. 6. All disposable items must be disposed of in a lined trash container.

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7. All cloth gowns must be placed in a container provided by the supervisor; when the container is emptied to launder the gowns, the staff is responsible for sanitizing the container.

8. All facility based locations will provide paper towels and disinfectant for program and office areas. 9. All staff will follow established policies and procedures developed for their program. The specific

program directives are attached.

10. For each consumer with a known communicable disease, an individualized care plan will be developed and made accessible to the staff providing the care.

11. A separate policy for Safe Practices Regarding Needles is in effect (See Section II; Part III). 12. Failure to follow these established policies and procedures will result in disciplinary action which

could include termination.

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Residential and Day Program Standard & Contact Precaution Policies

This document addresses the adherence to strict standard precautions within our day and residential programs. It addresses as well when contact precautions must be used. As a general rule, strict standard precautions will be used at all times at any residential or day program. When a person is known to be in a contagious state (timeframe when a person has an active issue that increases the likelihood of spreading an illness), contact precautions will be used to ensure the safety of consumers/staff. Strict standard precautions for UCP’s residential and day programs will encompass the following areas:

Hand washing, use of non-toxic hand sanitizer

Use of disposable gloves, other protective barriers

Cleaning of surfaces and equipment/food handling and preparation

Maintaining sanitary conditions during toileting and changing routines Stringent observance of the following must be adhered to at all times, to better ensure the safety of the individuals and staff working in the programs. Hand Washing /Use of Hand Sanitizer 1. Proper and frequent hand washing is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of

infectious disease. Soap and water is always the preferred method, but if there are time constraints, or it is not feasible to get to a sink, use of non-toxic hand sanitizer and/or cleaning wipes can be used.

2. All persons (staff, program individuals, volunteers, transportation providers, visitors, families,

individuals) entering the building must sanitize their hands upon entry, and upon every additional entry into the building.

Additionally, for programs with multiple room areas, all people are required to wash while moving

from one program area to another. For example, if a residential provider brings three individuals to three different program rooms, that residential staff person must sanitize at each room.

3. Staff and individuals must wash hands prior to lunch, and staff must wash prior to assisting with

each feeding for which they provide assistance. 4. All staff and individuals must wash hands after using the restroom and/or participating in a

change. The hand washing procedure should be completed immediately after toileting and/or changing and before touching other objects in the room.

5. Individuals who wear undergarments require the same hand washing procedure as individuals who

use the toilet because their hands may become contaminated in the changing area.

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Washing at changing time reduces the amount of all types of germs on a regular basis. Staff that assist consumers in toileting or changing, or who check undergarments, also need to follow correct hand washing procedures after helping each individual.

Proper Hand Washing Procedure 1. Hand washing at the sink should be done individually. For example, each individual should wash

their hands, not having to share the sink and water, and the program staff should not consider that their hands have been washed because they washed the hands of an individual.

2. The hand washing procedure must minimize recontamination of hands from toileting/changing

germs that are on the sinks and faucets. When possible, faucets should be turned off with a disposable paper towel.

3. The staff, as well as the individuals, should wash hands using the following procedure:

Moisten hands with warm water and use liquid soap.

Rub hands together for at least 10 seconds (sing 1 verse of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”).

Rinse hands free of soap under running water.

Turn off sink with clean paper towel

Dry hands with a clean, disposable paper towel or air dry with a blower.

Throw the used paper towel into a hands-free (preferably) trash container. Examples When Proper Hand Washing is Required: 1. To minimize the risk of spreading household germs.

Upon arrival into the program room

After touching trash cans or lids

After cleaning up spills

When hands are otherwise contaminated 2. After messy activities.

After being outdoors, and hands are noticeably soiled

After messy activities such as painting or gluing

After gardening

After cooking activities (and before as well)

After playing with pets

3. To minimize the risk of spreading diseases through bodily fluids or skin contact.

After using the bathroom

After sneezing or coughing when hands are contaminated

After wiping noses

Before and after applying sunscreen to an individual

Before and after dealing with cuts, scrapes, or other health needs

After cleaning up bodily fluid spills 4. To minimize the risk of spreading intestinal disease through food preparation and handling.

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Hand washing is the most important way to reduce the spread of intestinal diseases. Studies have shown that unwashed or improperly washed hands are the primary carriers of disease.

Care must be taken so that hands, with or without gloves, are not re-contaminated before handling or eating food. For example, individuals should not be allowed to touch the floor or use activity items between hand washing and eating.

Staff with washed hands, with or without gloves, should keep from touching individuals, materials, the floor, and other things that would contaminate the gloves.

To help prevent recontamination use a disposable paper towel to turn the water off.

If individuals touch food or finger feed themselves during meals, then they must have hands washed after eating to prevent the growth of germs and contamination of the many surfaces around the program area. Faces should also be wiped.

Use of Disposable Gloves, Other Protective Barriers 1. Gloves do not replace hand washing. 2. Staff are required to wear gloves during all changes, as gloves reduce soil on caregivers’ hands and

underneath fingernails. 3. Staff must remove their gloves, dispose of them into lined trash containers, and immediately wash

their hands to reduce the spread of germs. 4. Gloves must be changed and disposed of after use with each individual. Cleaning of Surfaces and Equipment/Food Handling and Preparation 1. In addition to hand washing, it is imperative to routinely clean all materials, equipment, and

surface areas to ensure cleanliness and to help prevent the spread of germs. 2. All surfaces that come into contact with potentially infectious body fluids (such as blood, saliva,

vomit, urine, feces, oozing from wounds or infections, mucous) must be cleaned and disinfected immediately.

Use an approved disinfectant, or disinfectant wipes, both of which are purchased from the agency supply vendor.

The individual and the staff must wash their hands properly without contaminating any other surfaces.

3. The possibility of contamination from blood borne pathogens, such as the hepatitis B virus, HIV, or

hepatitis C must be minimized. Since it is unknown whether any person is a carrier of these diseases, precautions must be taken with the assumption that each person is infected. Items that have been soiled or mouthed must be set aside and washed.

4. Individual paper towels, disposable tissues, and liquid soap must be accessible. No towels, tissues,

or wash cloths should be used by more than one individual or staff member. 5. Dirty floors and activity surfaces must be cleaned up after messy usages. 6. Indoor and outdoor areas used for individuals must be free of animal contamination.

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7. Eating equipment, surfaces, and foods themselves, must be kept clean to avoid the spread of disease.

Tables must be washed to remove soil, and sanitized with a bleach-water solution before and after being used for meals and snacks.

To allow the bleach-water solution to do its job-to kill the germs-it should be allowed to sit for at least 10 seconds before being wiped dry.

Sponges are not to be used because they soak bacteria away from the surface of the sponge, which then cannot easily be reached by a sanitizing agent.

If wet cloths are used, a separate cloth is required for each table, and cloths cannot be returned to soak in the bleach-water solution.

Food spills on the floor must also be cleaned up. 8. Food and beverages are to be served with sanitary utensils. 9. Clean dishes, cups, utensils, and napkins should be used for eating. 10. Disposable supplies may not be reused. Reusable plates, cups, and utensils must be washed and

sanitized before reuse. 11. Foods may not be served directly onto the table top. 12. No contaminated foods should be eaten, such as food that can spoil and has been unrefrigerated

for more than one hour, or not kept hot enough, or foods that have been dropped on the floor. Maintaining Sanitary Conditions During Toileting and Changing Routines A large number of people sharing space, equipment, and materials for a majority of the day increase the likelihood of the spread of germs among people. Maintaining sanitary conditions during toileting and changing routines is necessary to minimize the spread of germs in the program. A vast amount of contamination can occur during toileting/changing routines in programs. In terms of toileting and changing, the diseases spread most frequently are those that are passed from contaminated hands to the mouth, especially intestinal diseases that cause diarrhea. Studies have shown that infections can be reduced by half when proper sanitary procedures are used in early childhood programs, and it is likely that similar results can be achieved in day and residential programs. Such procedures help prevent the spread of disease within a program and limit the spread outside the program as well. So it is important for every individual and staff member that sanitary procedures be carried out consistently and correctly to protect the health of the staff, the individuals, their families, and the greater community. The following is required to maintain the most possible sanitary conditions: 1. Ideally, a separate sink should be used only for hand washing after toileting/changing to prevent

the spread of infectious agents in the feces and urine.

If staff or individuals touch faucets while washing their hands after they have used the toilet or taken part in changing, germs from feces or urine will get on the faucets and in the sink.

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2. Ideally, this sink should not be used for any other purpose. If it is possible to designate sinks for specific purposes, then this should be done (for example, sinks near toilets should be used only for hand washing after toileting, while other sinks in the classroom should be used for all other hand washing).

If the same sink is used by either individuals or staff for both changing/toileting and food related routines (including brushing teeth) or for other purposes (for example, to wash program room equipment), it must be sanitized after diaper/toileting use by cleaning the sinks and faucets with the approved cleaning solutions.

All use of the sink for one purpose can be completed before the sink needs to be sanitized for another use.

It is not required that the sink be sanitized before changing/toileting use. However, the sink should be sanitized after use for toileting/changing, before using the same sink for other purposes.

3. Toilets must be flushed after use, sanitized and cleaned daily or more frequently, if needed. Since

individuals may handle toileting independently, observe periodically to see if toilets are flushed as needed.

4. Toileting/changing area(s) must be kept clean. Floors, doors, and walls should be well maintained

and obviously clean.

No trash (paper towels, toilet paper), built-up grime, or spills should be on the floor.

The area should not be dominated by the smell of urine. 5. Trash, including paper towels, must be disposed of into lined trash containers. 6. Supplies needed for staff and individuals in the toileting or changing areas must be within easy

reach to encourage proper personal hygiene and to minimize the spread of disease.

If provisions are not readily available, staff and individuals will be less likely to use them.

If staff and individuals have to move from one area to another to access needed supplies, they are more likely to spread contamination into other areas of the program room.

Preparing for Changing To minimize contamination outside of the changing area, prepare for a change before bringing the individual to the changing area, for example, by having ready:

Enough wipes for the change (including wiping the bottom and hands after taking the soiled diaper away from the individual’s skin.

A clean diaper, plastic bag for soiled clothes, and clean clothes if soiled clothing is anticipated.

Non-porous gloves if they will be used, and a dab of cream on a disposable piece of paper or tissue if cream is being used.

Supplies should have been removed from their containers and placed near, but not directly on, the changing surface before starting the change.

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Changing Procedure 1. Prepare for changing as indicated above. 2. Place individual on changing pad on changing area. Remove clothing to access undergarment. If

soiled, place clothes into plastic bag. 3. Remove soiled undergarment and place into lined, hands-free trash container. (To limit odor, seal

in a plastic bag before placing into trash container). 4. Use wipes to clean individual’s bottom from front to back. 5. Use a wipe to remove soil from staff’s hands. 6. Use another wipe to remove soil from individual’s hands. 7. Throw soiled wipes into lined trash container. 8. Put on clean undergarment and redress individual. 9. Place individual at sink and wash hands following the “handwashing procedure.” 10. Changing pads must be changed after each use. 11. Staff washes hands using the “handwashing procedure,” without contaminating any other

surfaces. 12. Items that are played with or objects that are touched, while individual’s undergarments are

changed, must be put aside to be sanitized. Notes:

Both staff and the individuals’ hands must be washed after the changing procedure is completed.

Disposable towels are preferred because shared cloth towels transmit infectious disease. If a cloth towel is assigned to each individual, staff must ensure that each individual uses only the assigned towel and that the towels never touch. Preventing shared use is difficult. Disposable towels prevent this problem completely if they are thrown away after being used and are not reused.

Contact Precautions Contact precautions will be used during a timeframe when a person is thought to be in a contagious state of an infection, illness, or disease. The term contagious refers to the timeframe when a person has an active issue that increases the likelihood of spreading the illness, as opposed to the times when a person would be considered a carrier or colonized with an illness. Contact precautions will include:

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Staff wearing gloves, gowns, masks, and goggles when working with a person with a contagious/potentially contagious infection, illness, or disease.

Staff will attempt to maintain a minimum three feet of space between person with a suspected contagious disease and others, by asking person to move to different part of program room or taking the person to the sick room/first aide area until they are picked up to be taken home.

Day Program: For day programs, this would be the timeframe from when a person is thought to have a contagious illness, infection, or disease until the time they are picked up and transported home. The person will have to be in compliance with the components of the illness policy to be able to return. 1. Upon return, the day program will use strict standard precautions unless the person’s personal

physician states that contact precautions must be used. 2. The on site Program Manager or Program Supervisor, in conjunction with the appropriate Director

or Manager, is responsible to ensure that they have an understanding of the pertinent medical issues upon the person’s return to the program to ensure their ability to safely serve the person, and everyone else in the program.

3. If questions remain about the safety of program participants, contact precautions will be

implemented and the Director of Manager will contact the person’s physician and discuss any issues with them directly for clarification.

4. If there is question as to whether a person can be served safely within the day program, we will

require a team meeting to discuss the pertinent issues and how they can be solved prior to their return to the day program.

Residential: 1. Contact precautions will follow the same barrier protections when working with a person

suspected of being contagious as stated above in the day program section.

Staff wearing gloves, gowns, masks, and goggles when working with a person with a contagious or potentially contagious infection, illness, or disease.

Staff will attempt to maintain a minimum three feet of space between person with a suspected contagious disease and others, by asking person to move to different part of the home.

2. When working with a person who becomes contagious in the residential program, other issues

must be discussed. Each situation will need to be reviewed by the responsible Supervisors / Director / Manager who will then review recommendations with the Director of Adult Services.

3. In reviewing the situation, the following items will need to be considered:

Are the staff able to adequately ensure separation of the people living in the home, while the person is contagious;

Should the person be hospitalized (or remain in the hospital) for the contagious diagnosis;

Should the individual be moved to an off site premises such as a hotel as a temporary, precautionary technique.

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Community Services Standard & Contact Precaution Policies

This document addresses the adherence to strict standard precautions within our In-Home and Community Services programs. It addresses as well when contact precautions must be used. As a general rule, strict standard precautions will be used at all times including in consumers’ homes. When a consumer is known to be in a contagious state (timeframe when a person has an active issue that increases the likelihood of spreading an illness), contact precautions will be used to ensure the safety of consumers/staff. Strict standard precautions for UCP’s In-Home and Community Services programs will encompass the following areas:

Hand washing, use of hand sanitizer



Maintaining sanitary conditions while providing all personal care and home support activities Stringent observance of the following must be adhered to at all times, to better ensure the safety of the individuals and staff working in the programs. Hand Washing /Use of Hand Sanitizer 1. Proper and frequent hand washing is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of

infectious disease. Soap and water is always the preferred method, but is not always possible when in consumer homes, in which case hand sanitizer can be used.

2. Use pump hand soap and paper towels to wash hands when in the consumers’ homes. Do not use

bar soap and/or cloth towels. 3. Hand sanitizer is available at the office for Staff to pick up if none is available in the homes for their

use. 4. All staff and visitors entering the building must sanitize their hands upon entry, and upon every

additional entry into the building.

There are hand sanitizer dispensers inside the entry doors at all Community Services offices.

5. All staff and visitors must wash their hands after using the restroom. Proper Hand Washing Procedure 1. Hand washing at the sink should be done individually. Staff should not consider that their hands

have been washed because they washed the hands of a consumer. 2. The hand washing procedure must minimize recontamination of hands from toileting/changing


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3. The staff should wash hands using the following procedure:





Dry hands with a clean, disposable paper towel.

Throw the used paper towel into a hands-free (preferably) trash container. Examples When Proper Hand Washing is Required: To minimize the risk of spreading germs and/or disease, staff members are required to wash their hands as follows: 1. To minimize the risk of spreading household germs.

Upon arriving and before leaving the consumers home.

Prior to and immediately after providing all personal care.

Prior to and after handling raw meats and preparing food.

After touching trashcans or lids.

After handling laundry.

After completing household cleaning tasks

After touching a consumer’s pet

Whenever possible, faucets should be turned off with a clean paper towel.

When hands are otherwise contaminated 2. To minimize the risk of spreading germs and/or disease through bodily fluids or skin contact.


After sneezing or using tissues or coughing into hands

Before and after all personal care

After cleaning bodily fluid spills

Whenever possible, faucets should be turned off with a clean paper towel. 3. To avoid spreading intestinal disease through food preparation and handling.

Hand washing is the most important way to reduce the spread of intestinal diseases.

Care must be taken so that hands, with or without gloves, are not re-contaminated before handling or eating food.

Staff with washed hands, with or without gloves, should avoid touching anything that would contaminate the hands/gloves.

Prior to and after handling raw meats and preparing food


Consumers should wash their hands before and after eating to prevent the growth of germs and contamination of the many surfaces around the home.

Use of Disposable Gloves, Other Protective Barriers 1. Gloves do not replace hand washing. 2. Staff is required to wear gloves when performing all facets of personal care as gloves reduce soil

on caregivers’ hands and underneath fingernails.

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3. Staff must remove their gloves, dispose of them in a lined trash container, and immediately wash their hands to reduce the spread of germs.

4. Gloves must be changed and disposed of after each task performed.

Cleaning of Surfaces and Equipment/Food Handling and Preparation 1. In addition to hand washing, it is imperative to routinely clean all counter surfaces and food prep

equipment to ensure cleanliness and to help prevent the spread of germs. 2. All surfaces that come into contact with potentially infectious body fluids (such as blood, saliva,


The consumer and the staff must wash their hands properly without contaminating any other surfaces.


hepatitis C must be minimized. Since it is unknown whether any person is a carrier of these diseases, precautions must be taken with the assumption that each person is infected. Items that have been contaminated with blood or body fluids must be cleaned.

4. No towels, tissues, or wash cloths should be used more than once. 5. Eating equipment, surfaces, and foods themselves, must be kept clean to avoid the spread of

disease.

Sponges should not be used because they soak bacteria away from the surface of the sponge, which then cannot easily be reached by a sanitizing agent.

Cloths should not be used more than once.

Food spills on the floor must be cleaned up. 6. Clean dishes, cups, utensils, and napkins should be used at mealtime. 7. No contaminated foods should be eaten, such as food that can spoil and has been unrefrigerated

for more than one hour, or not kept hot enough, or foods that have been dropped on the floor. Maintaining Sanitary Conditions During Toileting Routines Studies have shown that unwashed or improperly washed hands are the primary carriers of disease. Even if your hands appear to be clean, they may carry germs. Washing your hands not only prevents you from getting sick but also reduces the risk of infecting others. Maintaining sanitary conditions, to the best of our ability, in each consumer’s home and practicing standard precautions with all tasks keeps consumers and staff safe and free of diseases. Incontinence Procedure 1. Gather supplies (pads/briefs, bath blanket, towel, basin of warm water, two washcloths).

2. Wash hands, put on gloves.

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3. Assist consumer to remove pants and place bath blanket over exposed body for privacy

4. Remove the fasteners from the sides of the incontinence pants and bring the front part of the pants down between the thighs.

5. Remove the pad/brief. If consumer can assist, ask to bend their knees and press their feet into the

mattress while you remove the briefs from beneath them. If consumer is unable to assist, turn consumer onto side. Pull the pad from between legs toward you while being careful not to spill the fecal material or pull consumer’s skin.

6. Fold the brief and put in a secure place.

7. Wash, rinse and dry the skin of the perineal area and buttocks. Repeat cleaning a second time.

8. If consumer can lift own buttocks, ask them to do so while you place a clean brief beneath them.

For consumers who are on their side, place the clean brief next to their back. Line up the waist of the brief with the consumer’s waist.

9. Bring up the front of the brief between the legs. Be sure to have brief all the way up to the

consumer’s crotch.

10. At each side, fasten the front of the brief to the back.

11. Replace the top linens and remove the bath blanket.

12. Discard disposable brief using a bag before placing in the lined trash container.

13. For reusable briefs, take to bathroom, empty fecal matter into toilet, and place soiled brief in the closed hamper.

14. Remove and dispose of gloves.

15. Wash hands. Contact Precautions Contact precautions are procedures that reduce the risk of spread of infections through direct or indirect contact with the consumer or with handling of a contaminated object. Contact procedures will be used during a timeframe when a person is thought to be in a contagious state of an infection, illness, or disease. The term contagious refers to the timeframe when a person has an active issue that increases the likelihood of spreading the illness, as opposed to the times when a person would be considered a carrier or colonized with an illness. Protective equipment such as masks, gowns, and goggles will be supplied to staff when working with consumers who may be contagious. Each individual situation will be assessed by the Program staff and a Contact Precautions Plan, including training for staff, will be developed and implemented.

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Childhood Programs Standard & Contact Precaution Policies

This document addresses the adherence to strict standard precautions within our childcare and early intervention programs. It addresses as well when contact precautions must be used. As a general rule, strict standard precautions will be used at all times. When a person is known to be in a contagious state (timeframe when a person has an active issue that increases the likelihood of spreading an illness), contact precautions will be used to ensure the safety of consumers/staff. Strict standard precautions for UCP’s childcare and early intervention programs will encompass the following areas:

Hand washing, use of hand sanitizer (only when a water source is not available)



Maintaining sanitary conditions during toileting and changing routines Stringent observance of the following must be adhered to at all times, to better ensure the safety of the individuals and staff working in the programs. Hand Washing /Use of Hand Sanitizer 1. Proper and frequent hand washing is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of

infectious disease. Soap and water is always the preferred method, but if there are time constraints, or it is not feasible to get to a sink, use of hand sanitizer and/or cleaning wipes can be used if a water source is not available.

2. In-home therapy staff must wash hands upon entering the home and exiting the home, and when

using the restroom. 3. All persons (staff, program individuals, volunteers, transportation providers, visitors, families,

individuals) entering the building must sanitize their hands upon entry, and upon every additional entry into the building.

Additionally, for programs with multiple room areas, all people are required to wash while moving

from one program area to another. 4. Staff and individuals must wash hands prior to lunch, and staff must wash prior to assisting with

each feeding for which they provide assistance. 5. Staff must wash hands after wiping a child’s nose or anytime they come into contact with body

fluids. 6. All staff and children must wash hands after using the restroom and/or participating in a change.

The hand washing procedure should be completed immediately after toileting and/or changing and before touching other objects in the room.

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7. Individuals who wear undergarments require the same hand washing procedure as individuals who use the toilet because their hands may become contaminated in the changing area.

Washing at changing time reduces the amount of all types of germs on a regular basis. Staff that assist children in toileting or changing, or who check undergarments, also need to follow correct hand washing procedures after helping each individual.

Proper Hand Washing Procedure 1. Hand washing at the sink should be done individually. For example, each child should wash their

hands, not having to share the sink and water, and the staff should not consider that their hands have been washed because they washed the hands of the child. This should be done upon entering the classroom for children and parents.

2. The hand washing procedure must minimize recontamination of hands from toileting/changing


3. The staff, as well as the children, should wash hands using the following procedure:





Dry hands with a clean, disposable paper towel or air dry with a blower.

Throw the used paper towel into a hands-free (preferably) trash container. Examples When Proper Hand Washing is Required: 1. To minimize the risk of spreading household germs.

Upon arrival into the classroom

After touching trash cans or lids

After cleaning up spills

When hands are otherwise contaminated 2. After messy activities.

After being outdoors, and hands are noticeably soiled

After messy activities such as painting or gluing

After gardening

After meal preparation activities (and before as well)

After playing with pets

3. To minimize the risk of spreading diseases through bodily fluids or skin contact.


After sneezing or coughing when hands are contaminated

After wiping noses

Before and after applying sunscreen to an individual

Before and after dealing with cuts, scrapes, or other health needs

After cleaning up bodily fluid spills

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5. To minimize the risk of spreading intestinal disease through food preparation and handling.

Hand washing is the most important way to reduce the spread of intestinal diseases. Studies have shown that unwashed or improperly washed hands are the primary carriers of disease.

Care must be taken so that hands, with or without gloves, are not re-contaminated before handling or eating food. For example, children should not be allowed to touch the floor or use activity items between hand washing and eating.

Staff with washed hands, with or without gloves, should keep from touching children, materials, the floor, and other things that would contaminate the gloves.


If children touch food or finger feed themselves during meals, then they must have hands washed after eating to prevent the growth of germs and contamination of the many surfaces around the program area. Faces should also be wiped.

Use of Disposable Gloves, Other Protective Barriers 1. Gloves do not replace hand washing. 2. Staff are required to wear gloves during all changes, as gloves reduce soil on caregivers’ hands and

underneath fingernails. 3. Staff must remove their gloves, dispose of them in lined trash containers, and immediately wash

their hands to reduce the spread of germs. 4. Gloves must be changed and disposed of in lined trash containers after use with each child. Cleaning of Surfaces and Equipment/Food Handling and Preparation 1. In addition to hand washing, it is imperative to routinely clean all materials, equipment, and

surface areas to ensure cleanliness and to help prevent the spread of germs. 2. All surfaces that come into contact with potentially infectious body fluids (such as blood, saliva,


Use of a bleach water solution to prevent the risk of contamination.

The individual and the staff must wash their hands properly without contaminating any other surfaces.


hepatitis C must be minimized. Since it is unknown whether any person is a carrier of these diseases, precautions must be taken with the assumption that each person is infected. Items that have been soiled or mouthed must be set aside and washed.

4. Individual paper towels, disposable tissues, and liquid soap must be accessible. No towels, tissues,

or wash cloths should be used by more than one individual or staff member. 5. Dirty floors and activity surfaces must be cleaned up after messy usages. 6. Indoor and outdoor areas used for individuals must be free of animal contamination.

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7. Eating equipment, surfaces, and foods themselves, must be kept clean to avoid the spread of disease.

Tables must be washed with soapy water first to remove soil, and sanitized with a bleach-water solution before and after being used for meals and snacks.

To allow the bleach-water solution to do its job-to kill the germs-it should be allowed to sit for at least 10 seconds before being wiped dry.

Allowing the solution to sit for at least 2 minutes before wiping dry is preferable, and the table can be allowed to air dry. However, only at least 10 seconds is required to give credit for this aspect of maintaining sanitary procedures for this item.

Sponges are not to be used because they soak bacteria away from the surface of the sponge, which then cannot easily be reached by a sanitizing agent.

If wet cloths are used, a separate cloth is required for each table, and cloths cannot be returned to soak in the bleach-water solution.

Food spills on the floor must also be cleaned up. 8. Food and beverages are to be served with sanitary utensils. 9. Clean dishes, cups, utensils, and napkins should be used for eating. 10. Disposable supplies may not be reused. Reusable plates, cups, and utensils must be washed and

sanitized before reuse. 11. Foods may not be served directly onto the table top. 12. No contaminated foods should be eaten, such as food that can spoil and has been unrefrigerated

for more than one hour, or not kept hot enough, or foods that have been dropped on the floor. 13. All classrooms and indoor play room must be sprayed at the closing of each day with the approved

viricide to minimize the spread of germs. Maintaining Sanitary Conditions During Toileting and Changing Routines A large number of people sharing space, equipment, and materials for a majority of the day increase the likelihood of the spread of germs among people. Maintaining sanitary conditions during toileting and changing routines is necessary to minimize the spread of germs in the program. A vast amount of contamination can occur during toileting/changing routines in programs. In terms of toileting and changing, the diseases spread most frequently are those that are passed from contaminated hands to the mouth, especially intestinal diseases that cause diarrhea. Studies have shown that infections can be reduced by half when proper sanitary procedures are used in early childhood programs. Such procedures help prevent the spread of disease within a program and limit the spread outside the program as well. So it is important for every child and staff member that sanitary procedures be carried out consistently and correctly to protect the health of the staff, the individuals, their families, and the greater community.

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The following is required to maintain the most possible sanitary conditions: 1. Ideally, a separate sink should be used only for hand washing after toileting/changing to prevent

the spread of infectious agents in the feces and urine.

If staff or children touch faucets while washing their hands after they have used the toilet or taken part in changing, germs from feces or urine will get on the faucets and in the sink.

2. Ideally, this sink should not be used for any other purpose. If it is possible to designate sinks for

specific purposes, then this should be done (for example, sinks near toilets should be used only for hand washing after toileting, while other sinks in the classroom should be used for all other hand washing).

If the same sink is used by either children or staff for both changing/toileting and food related routines or for other purposes (for example, to wash program room equipment), it must be sanitized after diaper/toileting use by cleaning the sinks and faucets with the approved cleaning solutions.

All use of the sink for one purpose can be completed before the sink needs to be sanitized for another use.

It is not required that the sink be sanitized before changing/toileting use. However, the sink should be sanitized after use for toileting/changing, before using the same sink for other purposes.

3. Toilets must be flushed after use, sanitized and cleaned daily or more frequently, if needed. Since

children may handle toileting independently, observe periodically to see if toilets are flushed as needed.

4. Toileting/changing area(s) must be kept clean. Floors, doors, and walls should be well maintained

and obviously clean.

No trash (paper towels, toilet paper), built-up grime, or spills should be on the floor.

The area should not be dominated by the smell of urine. 5. Trash, including paper towels, must be disposed of properly in lined trash containers.

6. Supplies needed for staff and children in the toileting or changing areas must be within easy reach

to encourage proper personal hygiene and to minimize the spread of disease.

If provisions are not readily available, staff and children will be less likely to use them.

If staff and children have to move from one area to another to access needed supplies, they are more likely to spread contamination into other areas of the program room.

Preparing for Changing To minimize contamination outside of the changing area, prepare for a change before bringing the individual to the changing area, for example, by having ready:

Enough wipes for the change (including wiping the bottom and hands after taking the soiled diaper away from the individual’s skin.

A clean diaper, plastic bag for soiled clothes, and clean clothes if soiled clothing is anticipated.

Non-porous gloves if they will be used.

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Supplies should have been removed from their containers and placed near, but not directly on, the changing surface before starting the change. Changing Procedure 1. Wash hands first. 2. Prepare for changing as indicated above. 3. Place child on changing pad to begin the changing procedures. 4. Remove soiled undergarment and place into lined, hands-free trash container. 5. Clean the child’s bottom from front to back with disposable wipes. 6. Staff will use a disposable wipe to clean their hands. 7. Use another wipe to clean the child’s hands. 8. Throw soiled wipes into lined trash container. 9. Put on clean undergarment and redress the child. 10. Place child at sink and wash hands following the “hand washing procedure.” 11. Changing pads must be disinfected after each use. 12. Staff washes hands using the “hand washing procedure,” without contaminating any other

surfaces.

*Taken from: Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Standard for Out of Home Child Care Programs, 2nd edition. Notes:

Both staff and the children’s’ hands must be washed after the changing procedure is completed.

Disposable towels are required because shared cloth towels transmit infectious disease. Disposable towels prevent this problem completely if they are thrown away after being used and are not reused.

Contact Precautions Contact precautions will be used during a timeframe when a person is thought to be in a contagious state of an infection, illness, or disease. The term contagious refers to the timeframe when a person has an active issue that increases the likelihood of spreading the illness, as opposed to the times when a person would be considered a carrier or colonized with an illness.

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This would be the timeframe from when a person is thought to have a contagious illness, infection, or disease until the time they are picked up and transported home. The person will have to be in compliance with the components of the illness policy to be able to return. 1. Upon return, the program will use strict standard precautions unless the person’s personal

physician states that contact precautions must be used. 2. The Program Manager and Director are responsible to ensure that they have an understanding of

the pertinent medical issues upon the child’s return to the program to ensure their ability to safely serve the child, and everyone else in the program.

3. If questions remain about the safety of program participants, contact precautions will be

implemented and the Manager and Director will contact the child’s parents and physician and discuss any issues with them directly for clarification.

4. If there is question as to whether a child can be served safely within the program, we will require a

team meeting to discuss the pertinent issues and how they can be solved prior to their return to the program.

5. Contact precautions will include:

Staff wearing gloves, gowns, masks, and goggles when working with a person with a contagious/potentially contagious infection, illness, or disease.

Staff will attempt to maintain a minimum three feet of space between the child with a suspected contagious disease and others, by moving the child to a different part of the classroom, or taking the person to a designated sick room or first aide area until they are picked up to be taken home.

Health Assessments for Childcare/Preschool Program Participants 1. Parents are required to provide a current health assessment for each child enrolled within 60 days

of enrollment. This assessment must include a complete immunization history.

Health assessments are due for children according to the following guidelines form the American Academy of Pediatrics:

1. At least every 6 months for children birth to 24 months of age.

2. At least every 12 months for children 24 months of age and older.

If the child’s health assessment is not current, they may be removed from the program until a current health assessment is obtained. According to state regulations, a child may not remain in care without a current health assessment.

2. According to the Pennsylvania Child Care Regulations, 55 Pa. Code § 3270.131a., an exemption from immunization for religious belief or strong personal objection equated to a religious belief shall be documented by a written, signed and dated statement from the child’s parent or guardian.

3. Exemption from immunization for reasons of medical need shall be documented by a written,

signed, and dated statement from the child’s health care provider.

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4. A child will be excluded from the program immediately upon an outbreak of any vaccine-preventable disease to which the child is susceptible due to his/her under-immunization for that disease due to religious or personal objection or medical need.

Illness / Inclusion / Exclusion / Dismissal of Children for Health Reasons Parents and staff work together to help all children in our care stay as healthy as possible. To minimize the risk of spreading contagious illnesses, the following policy is strictly adhered to: 1. The parent, legal guardian, or other person the parent authorizes will be notified immediately

when a child has any sign or symptom that requires exclusion from the facility.

2. A child will be observed and kept comfortable in the Director of Options office while waiting to be picked up.

3. CACC may ask the parents to consult with the child's health care provider. We ask that parents

inform us of the advice received from the health care provider, especially if a contagious illness is diagnosed.

4. The advice of the child's health care provider will be followed by the CACC staff.

5. If it is determined that a child should be temporarily excluded from the program due to an illness

that arises during the school day, a written Illness Report will be completed, indicating symptoms, time of onset, and other details.

6. The Illness Report will be signed by the Director or his/her designee, the teacher or AGS in the

child’s classroom (if appropriate), and the parent, guardian or other responsible adult who picks up the child.

Guidelines for Exclusion from Childcare Certain symptoms in children may suggest the presence of a communicable disease. Children who have the following symptoms should be excluded from the child care setting until (1) a physician has certified the symptoms are not associated with an infectious disease or they are no longer a threat to the health of other children in the center OR (2) the symptoms have subsided: 1. The illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in activities as determined by the

child’s teaching staff and/or the Director.

2. The illness results in a greater need for care than our staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of the other children; or

3. The child has one or more of the following conditions:

A fever of 101˚f or higher especially if accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting, sore throat, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, or undiagnosed rash. The child must be fever free, without medication for fever reduction, for 24 hours before returning to school.

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Symptoms and signs of possible severe illness, until a medical professional evaluates and finds the child able to be included at the facility. Symptoms and signs of possible severe illness include: - lethargy that is more than expected tiredness; - uncontrolled coughing; - inexplicable irritability or persistent crying; - difficult breathing; - wheezing; or - other unusual behavior for the child.

Diarrhea, defined as watery stools, decreased form of stool that is not associated with changes of diet, and increased frequency of passing stool that is not contained by the child's ability to use the toilet. The child must be free of symptoms of diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school.

Blood in stools not explainable by dietary change, medication, or hard stools.

Vomiting (two or more episodes of vomiting in the previous 24 hours), until vomiting resolves or until a health care provider determines that the cause of the vomiting is not contagious and the child is not in danger of dehydration. The child must be free of symptoms of vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school.

Persistent abdominal pain that continues for more than two hours or intermittent abdominal pain associated with fever or other symptoms.

Mouth sores with drooling, unless a health care provider or health department official determines that the child is noninfectious.

Rash with fever or behavior change, until a physician determines that these symptoms do not indicate a communicable disease.

Purulent conjunctivitis (defined as pink or red conjunctiva with white or yellow eye discharge), until after treatment has been initiated.

Pediculosis (head lice) until the child is “nit free” after treatment is applied.

Sore throat, especially when fever or swollen glands in the neck are present.

Unusual color, such as, yellowing of the skin or eyes, gray or white stool, or dark, tea colored urine. These symptoms can be found in hepatitis and should be evaluated by a physician.

Other contagious conditions diagnosed by a physician, such as Scabies, Tuberculosis, Impetigo, Strep Throat, Chickenpox, Pertussis, Mumps, Hepatitis A (viral), Measles, Rubella, and Shingles, among others, will be cause to exclude him/her from the program until a health care provider determines that the child is no longer contagious. In addition, if the child’s physician prescribes a course of antibiotics for any reason, since the first dose of antibiotic was administered. If the child is sent home from the center, and prescribed an antibiotic at a doctor’s visit, the child must remain out of the center the following day. CACC reserves the right to require a doctor’s statement before the child can return.

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Assistive Technology Standard & Contact Precaution Policies

This document addresses the adherence to strict standard precautions within our Assistive Technology programs. It addresses as well when contact precautions must be used. As a general rule, strict standard precautions will be used at all times including in consumers’ homes. When a consumer is known to be in a contagious state (timeframe when a person has an active issue that increases the likelihood of spreading an illness), contact precautions will be used to ensure the safety of consumers/staff. Steps will be taken immediately to minimize the potential transmission of disease. Many diseases are caused by microorganisms – living things invisible to the naked eye. Some of these microorganisms can survive on solid surfaces for long periods of time and are transmitted through simple contact. For example, cold and flu viruses can survive up to 72 hours on solid surfaces. Viruses can be contracted by touching the surfaces used by an infected person – a desktop, a telephone or a computer keyboard. Strict standard precautions for UCP’s Assistive Technology programs will encompass the following:

Hand washing, use of hand sanitizer



Maintaining sanitary conditions while providing all personal care and home support activities

Stringent observance of the following must be adhered to at all times, to better ensure the safety of the individuals and staff working in the programs. WHY SANITIZE?

1. To protect staff and consumers by avoiding the spread of germs and infection. The most common infections are colds and respiratory infections, but hepatitis and even AIDS can be communicated through exposure to saliva or blood.

2. To maintain PIAT’s standard of quality equipment (reused, demonstration and loan) being shared with others.

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLEANING, DISINFECTING AND SANITIZING

Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs from surfaces. This process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.

Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill

germs on surfaces or objects. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove

germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading

infection.

Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by

public health standards or requirements. This process works by either cleaning or disinfecting

surfaces or objects to lower the risk of spreading infection.

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Hand Washing /Use of Hand Sanitizer 1. Proper and frequent hand washing is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread

of infectious disease. Soap and water is always the preferred method, but is not always possible when in consumer homes, in which case hand sanitizer can be used.

2. Use pump hand soap and paper towels to wash hands when in the consumers’ homes. Do not use bar soap and/or cloth towels.

3. Hand sanitizer is available at the office for Staff to pick up if none is available in the homes for their use.

4. All staff and visitors entering the building must sanitize their hands upon entry, and upon every additional entry into the building.

5. There are hand sanitizer dispensers inside the entry doors at all Community Services offices. 6. All staff must wash their hands before/after demonstrations, expos, other events, and

equipment pickup/receipt. 7. 6.All staff and visitors must wash their hands after using the restroom.

Proper Hand Washing Procedure

1. Hand washing at the sink should be done individually. Staff should not consider that their hands have been washed because they washed the hands of a consumer.

2. The hand washing procedure must minimize recontamination of hands from toileting/changing germs that are on the sinks and faucets. When possible, faucets should be turned off with a disposable paper towel.

3. The staff should wash hands using the following procedure:





Dry hands with a clean, disposable paper towel.

Throw the used paper towel into a hands-free (preferably) trash container. Examples When Proper Hand Washing is Required: To minimize the risk of spreading germs and/or disease, staff members are required to wash their hands as follows: 1. To minimize the risk of spreading household germs.

Upon arriving and before leaving the consumers home.

Prior to and immediately after providing demonstrations.

Prior to and immediately after expos and vendor fairs and other events.

Prior to and immediately after picking up/receiving reuse equipment.

After touching trashcans or lids.

After handling laundry.

After completing equipment cleaning tasks

After touching a consumer’s pet

Whenever possible, faucets should be turned off with a clean paper towel.

When hands are otherwise contaminated 2. To minimize the risk of spreading germs and/or disease through bodily fluids or skin contact.


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After sneezing or using tissues or coughing into hands

Before and after all personal care

After cleaning bodily fluid spills

Whenever possible, faucets should be turned off with a clean paper towel. Use of Disposable Gloves, Other Protective Barriers 1. Gloves do not replace hand washing. 2. Staff is required to wear gloves when picking up/receiving reuse equipment. 3. Staff is required to wear gloves when cleaning reuse equipment. 4. Staff must remove their gloves, dispose of them in a lined trash container, and immediately wash

their hands to reduce the spread of germs. 5. Gloves must be changed and disposed of after each task performed or each piece of equipment is

cleaned. Cleaning of Surfaces and Equipment 1. In addition to hand washing, it is imperative to routinely clean reuse items as well as equipment

used for demonstrations, expos, and other events. 2. All surfaces that come into contact with potentially infectious body fluids (such as blood, saliva,


The consumer and the staff must wash their hands properly without contaminating any other surfaces.

3. The possibility of contamination from blood borne pathogens, such as the hepatitis B virus, HIV, or hepatitis C must be minimized. Since it is unknown whether any person is a carrier of these diseases, precautions must be taken with the assumption that each person is infected. Items that have been contaminated with blood or body fluids must be cleaned.

4. No towels, tissues, or wash cloths should be used more than once. Maintaining Sanitary Conditions During Toileting Routines Studies have shown that unwashed or improperly washed hands are the primary carriers of disease. Even if your hands appear to be clean, they may carry germs. Washing your hands not only prevents you from getting sick but also reduces the risk of infecting others. Maintaining sanitary conditions, to the best of our ability, in each consumer’s home and practicing standard precautions with all tasks keeps consumers and staff safe and free of diseases. Contact Precautions Contact precautions are procedures that reduce the risk of spread of infections through direct or indirect contact with the consumer or with handling of a contaminated object. Contact procedures will be used during a timeframe when a person is thought to be in a contagious state of an infection, illness, or disease. The term contagious refers to the timeframe when a person has an active issue that increases the likelihood of spreading the illness, as opposed to the times when a person would be considered a carrier or colonized with an illness. Protective equipment such as masks, gowns, and goggles will be supplied to staff when working with consumers who may be contagious. Each individual situation will be assessed by the Program staff and a Contact Precautions Plan, including training for staff, will be developed and implemented.

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ALL PROGRAMS Return To Work

Following Exposure to a Communicable Disease UCP Central PA’s decisions involving persons who have communicable diseases shall be based on current and well-informed medical judgments concerning the disease, the risks of transmitting the illness to others, the symptoms and special circumstances of each individual who has a communicable disease, and a careful weighing of the identified risks and the available alternative for responding to an employee with a communicable disease. Communicable diseases for the purpose of this policy include:

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Chicken Pox / Shingles

Measles/Mumps/Rubella

hepatitis-A/ hepatitis-B / hepatitis-C

Leprosy

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

Tuberculosis UCP Central PA may choose to broaden this definition within its best interest and in accordance with information received through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). UCP Central PA and its subsidiaries will not discriminate against any job applicant or employee based on the individual having a communicable disease. Applicants and employees shall not be denied access to the workplace solely on the grounds that they have a communicable disease. UCP Central PA and its subsidiaries reserves the right to exclude a person with a communicable disease from the workplace facilities, programs and functions if the organization finds that, based on a medical determination, such restriction is necessary for the welfare of the person who has the communicable disease and/or the welfare of others within the workplace. UCP Central PA and its subsidiaries will comply with all applicable statutes and regulations that protect the privacy of persons who have a communicable disease. Every effort will be made to ensure procedurally sufficient safeguards to maintain the personal confidence about persons who have communicable diseases When an employee is exposed to a communicable disease (while working or on personal time) and experiences symptoms, the employee must remain off work and away from work sites until a physician clears them to be contagion free and safe to return to work. The Supervisor will immediately notify the Director of Administrative Services of the incident.

1. If the incident occurred while on the job, the supervisor and employee follow the procedure for reporting a workers compensation incidents, the employee ceases work immediately, and seeks immediate treatment with a workers compensation panel provider.

2. If the incident occurs on non-work time the employee notifies their supervisor and seeks immediate treatment with their healthcare provider.

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In addition to normal workers compensation procedures, a Human Resources (HR) staff person will contact the affected employee, explain the policy, and provide the employee a copy of their job description. HR will also inform the employee they are responsible to obtain and provide to HR (by the established date in the written and verbal notice) written medical clarification from the treating healthcare provider as follows: 1. Was your patient, diagnosed with an infectious disease? 2. If yes, was a culture performed to reach this diagnosis? 3. Has a treatment procedure been established for this patient?

o If yes, have you made the patient aware of the treatment procedure? o Is the patient following the procedure?

4. Is the patient infectious? o Can he or she have direct contact with consumers of our Agency?

5. Has your patient been released to return to work? o If yes, as of what date?

6. Please verify that you reviewed the patient’s job description provided by the employer UCP Central PA.

The contact by HR to the employee is made by phone, and then followed up by email or mail to the home address immediately afterward. In order for the employee to return to work, the above information must be provided to Human Resources within the established timeframe. The treating healthcare provider must also provide a release to return to work, noting any restrictions, and the date the employee may return to work. The employee must be diagnosed by the treating physician as no longer contagious in order to return to work. Effective May 1, 2013, when an employee of UCP Central PA or its subsidiaries misses work time due to the exposure and treatment of a communicable disease on the list above, UCP will assure he or she will be paid for the leave for up to two weeks full pay. Employees with short term disability benefits are required to submit a claim

1. UCP Central PA will coordinate with the Workers Compensation carrier for work related incidents; with UCP supplementing the difference in pay for the first two weeks from the date of notification.

2. For non work related incidents, UCP will provide supplemental payment for the first two weeks from the date of notification for employees with short term disability benefits.

3. For non work related incidents, UCP will provide full pay for the first two weeks from the date of notification for those with no short term disability benefits.

This wage payment policy remains in effect until a notice of it ending is posted and provided to the staff of UCP Central PA and its subsidiaries. All questions should be directed to the Director of Administrative Services at 717-737-3477.

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PROCEDURE: Safe Practices Regarding Needles NEW REVISED remove previous version SECTION (in manual): Section II Personnel; Part 3 APPROVED: __________________________________ EFFECTIVE DATE: 3/15/2009 PURPOSE: To ensure the safety of all employees when they are exposed to needles or other sharp

objects during the scope of their employment.

The most likely situations where you could come in contact with needles or other sharp objects would be administering blood sugar checks or providing other assistance for consumers who have diabetes and assistance for consumers or staff who experience a severe allergic reaction and use an Epi-Pen for this reaction.

PROCEDURE: 1. Contact Precautions must be followed at all times when dealing with needles and other sharp

objects. 2. Used needles and other sharp objects must be properly disposed of immediately after use. 3. Never place a cap back onto a used needle. 4. Never dispose of a needle or other sharp object in a trash can or trash bag. 5. Each UCP facility based program where use of needles and other sharp objects occurs must have

an approved sharps disposal container.

This absolutely pertains to programs and locations where consumers or staff have diabetes or other conditions requiring use of needles by them throughout the work period.

The program must participate in a sharps/needle disposal program available in their community or with the waste disposal company for that location.

The Program Manager is responsible for assuring an approved container is onsite at all times. These are available through the agency maintenance supply vendor.

The Program Manager is responsible for identifying the appropriate disposal method and assuring staff are aware and trained on all disposal procedures.

6. Each community based location where use of needles and other sharp objects occurs must have an

approved sharps disposal container.

Program supervisors will provide appropriate guidance for consumers who use needles to provide a safe work environment for our staff.

If the consumer is not able to provide an approved sharps disposal from a supply company or local pharmacy, a homemade disposal container will work. It must be sealed, labeled Hazardous, and be a coffee can, or a bleach or liquid detergent bottle.

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The Program Manager will provide staff the resources they need in order to assist the consumers in identifying and participating in a sharps/needle disposal program available in their community (which could include the waste disposal company for that location).

The Program Manager is responsible for assuring staff are aware and trained on all disposal procedures.

7. Employees must report all needle sticks (with clean or used needles) occurring during the scope of

their employment. The Worker’s Compensation procedure must be followed.

The injured employee must report the stick to their supervisor, who will work with the employee to file a Workers Compensation initial injury report.

The injured employee must seek treatment immediately at an approved Workers Compensation panel provider as listed on the applicable region’s list of providers (each which includes a local hospital emergency room in the event the occupational medicine physician is not available).

6. If the needle was used prior to the needle stick, the Program Manager will request the consumer

who used the needle seek treatment with their family doctor to be tested for communicable diseases. This will assist the Workers Compensation physician in effectively treating the employee, and will help determine the time period the employee must be tested as follow up to the injury (needle stick).

If the consumer does not agree to be tested, the employee will follow the panel physician’s plan for further testing to assure the employee remains free from communicable disease.

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TRAINING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Effective 04/01/2010; Revised 4/18/2013

I acknowledge my receipt and review of this policy, and I understand that failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action which could include termination. Employee Name Employee Signature Date Trainer Signature Date

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