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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 | S U P P L E M E N T T O 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
When must a facility review and
revise the exposure control plan
required by the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard?
a.
quarterly
b.
annually
c.
after the introduction of new safety-engineered products
d.
while preparing for surveyors' inspections
Answer:
b
A surgical facility's written blood-and-body-fluid exposure control plan —
mandatory under the CMS Conditions for Coverage as well as some accredi-
tors' and professional organizations' guidelines — requires an annual update.
As a safety necessity, staying abreast of the sharps and exposure risks employ-
ees face on the job and the practices implemented to shield them stands
alongside fire drills and other emergency preparations. In our health system,
the development and annual review of our exposure control plan is in the
hands of the infection prevention department.
The Needlestick Safety Act
prohibits the use of surgical instruments
for which safety-engineered alternatives are available.
a.
true
b.
false
Answer:
b
It's true that a facility's exposure control plan should reflect changes in tech-
nology that eliminate or reduce exposure to bloodborne pathogens, and
effective and clinically appropriate safety-engineered sharps must be evalu-
ated and considered. But it's also true that redesigned instruments and sup-
S H A R P S S A F E T Y
