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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | M A R C H 2 0 1 4
We've
discovered
that infec-
tions can
be caused
by many
easy-to-
overlook
factors
and they
can usual-
ly be pre-
vented by
a series of
relatively
simple precautions. On the whole, surgical
facilities do a terrific job of keeping infection
rates down, but we should all be striving for
zero. Here's our formula for keeping infec-
tions to an absolute minimum:
1. Anoint an
infection preventionist
It's valuable to have someone in your team
who is responsible for infection prevention
education and patient follow-up. We have a
dedicated RN who attends classes and confer-
ences and is certified in this role. She follows
up with our physicians monthly, and when an
infection occurs, she completes a chart review
I N F E C T I O N P R E V E N T I O N
ON-TIME ANTIBIOTICS Document
when antibiotics are administered and the
incision time, so your infection prevention
specialist can keep track of compliance.
Jason
Meehan
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