The University of Virginia Health System and the American Nursing Association has issued a call to action to protect healthcare workers from exposure to bloodborne diseases.
In the 10 years since the passage of the federal Needlestick Safety and Protection Act, much progress has been made to reduce the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens, yet significant challenges remain, the groups wrote. The call to action focuses on five pivotal areas in need of attention:
1. Improve sharps safety in surgical settings.
2. Understand and reduce exposure risks in non-hospital settings (which include physicians' offices, clinics, home healthcare and an array of other settings).
3. Involve frontline workers in the selection of safety devices.
4. Address gaps in available safety devices and encourage innovative designs and technology.
5. Enhance worker education and training.
Nineteen nursing and healthcare organizations, including the Association of peri-Operative Registered Nurses, American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing, Premier healthcare alliance and AdvaMed, have endorsed the call to action as a roadmap for needlestick prevention.
In the 10 years since the passage of the federal Needlestick Safety and Protection Act, much progress has been made to reduce the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens, yet significant challenges remain, the groups wrote. The call to action focuses on five pivotal areas in need of attention:
1. Improve sharps safety in surgical settings.
2. Understand and reduce exposure risks in non-hospital settings (which include physicians' offices, clinics, home healthcare and an array of other settings).
3. Involve frontline workers in the selection of safety devices.
4. Address gaps in available safety devices and encourage innovative designs and technology.
5. Enhance worker education and training.
Nineteen nursing and healthcare organizations, including the Association of peri-Operative Registered Nurses, American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing, Premier healthcare alliance and AdvaMed, have endorsed the call to action as a roadmap for needlestick prevention.
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