Emergency Preparedness

Appendix H.5 – HID

Kern Medical Emergency Preparedness

 Staff is educated to understand that HID’s can be a very stigmatizing illness. Suspected and confirmed patients may need psychosocial support. At every encounter, staff will be mindful of how the patient is feeling, will communicate clearly, and will ensure that the patient understands their treatment plan as a PUI or confirmed HID patient  Only staff members who received training from Infection Prevention and Control are directly or indirectly involved in the care of PUI’s and confirmed HID patients.  Staff members directly involved in direct patient care or handling of patient specimens receive initial certification training for donning/doffing appropriate PPE and are recertified thereafter. • Management of exposures  Monitoring Exposure Incidents: All employees with potential or definite exposure to a pathogen infecting a patient being cared for in the hospital will be immediately evaluated on the unit by the on-call Infectious Disease physician. Employee health will be notified immediately and involved in the determination of appropriate steps for referrals and education.  Immediate Steps for Symptomatic Employees: HCP who develop sudden onset of fever, fatigue, intense weakness or muscle pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or any signs of hemorrhage should Not report to work or should be instructed to:  Immediately stop working  Notify their supervisor.  Seek prompt medical evaluation and testing  Comply with work exclusion until they are deemed no longer infectious to others.  Immediate Steps for Asymptomatic Employees: HCP who had an unprotected exposure (not wearing recommended PPE at the time of patient contact or through direct contact to blood or body fluids) to a patient with any HID and is not experiencing any symptoms should be instructed to:  Notify their supervisor  Seek prompt medical evaluation and testing  Complete symptom and fever monitoring for 30 days after the last known exposure.  Report any onset of symptoms or fevers to employee health nurse and PMD  Symptom Tracking: All employees involved in direct or indirect patient care or waste management are required to complete symptom surveys twice daily for 30 days.  Monitoring for Acute Illness: All employees who have recently cared for a patient in the unit and experience symptoms of an acute infectious disease (e.g., fever, cough, new rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, night sweats) will be immediately referred for evaluation at a designated Occupational Health facility during normal business hours, after hours, and on the weekends. Emergency

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