Safety Practices in Testing Areas

Abstract

It is important to provide for the safety of the patient and for oneself as well. There are practices that involve the use of supplies and equipment and other work practice controls for personal protection including washing the hands to avoid contamination of oneself. Often patients are victims of infections and healthcare workers are contaminated directly from handling the patient and during use of equipment while conducting a medical procedure. Thorough training and adherence to established procedures and practices are mandatory.

Both training and educational programs require the teaching of methods of self-protection of workers as well as protection of the patient. Workers may be infected by patients and patients by workers, so the risk is present for both parties. Written protocols must be established for healthcare facilities, and accreditation of these facilities requires appropriate training with regular updates, usually annually. Documentation of this initial training and updates is required on a routine basis as part of the facility accreditation requirements.