Annual In-Service

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The Care Group
Reach Therapy

• Annual In-Service

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Mission Statement

• The commitment of The Care Group / Reach Therapy
  is to provide high quality, state of the art,
  outcome-oriented health care to patients
  requiring specialized nursing, adult and
  pediatric rehabilitation services, adult nursing
  services, durable medical equipment, or
  respiratory therapy services in the home or other
  alternative sites.
• The commitment shared by every employee of The
  Care Group / Reach Therapy is to strive daily for
  performance improvement, clinical superiority,
  the highest standards of patient care, and
  customer service excellence.

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Purpose of In-Service
Ensure ongoing training and development for all
personnel to maintain competence. This also
includes annual continuing education and training
for all personnel.
Policy Number HHA 8-001.1 Policy Number HHA
9-001.4
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Topics

• Environmental Safety
• Equipment Management
• Utilities Management
• Security
• Infection Control
• Hazardous Materials/Wastes
• Emergency Preparedness
• Fire Safety

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Environmental Safety

• Back Safety
• Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls
• Unsafe Practices
• All personnel will be responsible for
  recognizing and avoiding unsafe conditions, as
  well as controlling or eliminating any hazards or
  exposure to injury.
• Policy Number HHA 8-002.1

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Back Safety

• There is one important rule THINK BEFORE YOU
  LIFT
• In lifting, you are the major cause of your
  injuries therefore, you have the major
  responsibility for preventing them.

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Back Safety - Moving Materials

• To pick up a low load
• Drop to one knee and lift the load to balance it
  on your other knee.
• Pause, adjust your grip and lift to standing,
  holding the load as close to your body as
  possible.
• As you rise, lift your head and your back will
  maintain its neutral curves.

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Slips, Trips, and Falls
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Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls

• Watch where you walk
• Do not allow cabling to create a tripping hazard
• Clean up spills quickly
• Do not block passageways
• Keep office areas clean
• Keep stacking and storage areas safe
• Pick up objects that fall

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Unsafe Practices

• Stacking and Storage
• Boxes, files, and other articles must NOT be
  stacked on top of cabinets, cupboards, or window
  sills
• Keep passages clear and fire fighting equipment
  unobstructed
• Light objects are stored in top drawers and heavy
  objects in the bottom also in filing cabinets
• Filing Cabinets
• Close the drawers
• Do not open all drawers at the same time
• Use the handle to close the drawer

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Equipment Management

• Office Machines
• All personnel will be knowledgeable regarding
  equipment management and safety.
• Policy Number HHA 8-005.1

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Office Machines

• If you see smoke or sparks, unplug it immediately
  and report it
• Place a sign on the machine indicating to others
  that it is out of order
• Learn how to operate them safely before you use
  them

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Utilities Management

• Electrical Safeguarding
• All personnel will be knowledgeable of the
  principles of electrical safety and utilities
  management.
• Policy Number HHA 8-004.1

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Electrical Safeguarding

• Cables
• Loose lying cables can cause tripping hazards,
  electrocution, and damage to expensive equipment
• Do not overload sockets
• Turn equipment off before unplugging
• It is your responsibility to report cable
  problems to your supervisor to have them fixed

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Security

• Personal Safety
• Self protection to enhance personal safety is
  the responsibility of all personnel.
• Policy Number HHA 8-012.1

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Personal Safety

• Know exactly where you are going before you leave
• Always keep car doors locked
• Carry your keys in your hand
• You can use them as a method of self-defense
• Quick access into your car
• Stay near groups of people
• Be aware of your surroundings

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Infection Control

• Bloodborne Pathogens
• Hepatitis B Vaccination
• Universal Precautions
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Hand Washing

The Care Group of Texas / Reach Therapy is
committed to reducing and minimizing employee
exposure to infections in the workplaceEmployees
of The Care Group of Texas / Reach Therapy must
assume responsibility to avail themselves of
required personal protective equipment and to
implement appropriate workplace controls. Policy
Number HHA 9-001.1
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Bloodborne Pathogen Diseases

• Malaria
• Brucellosis
• Syphilis
• Hepatitis B(HBV)
• Hepatitis C(HCV)
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

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Hepatitis B Vaccination

• Strongly endorsed by medical communities
• The Care Group / Reach Therapy offers the
  Hepatitis B Vaccine to all employees who have
  patient contact at no cost
• If you have patient contact and would like to
  receive the Hepatitis B Vaccine, make the HR
  Department or supervisor aware of your request

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Universal Precautions

• Isolate- separate yourself from contamination
  with a barrier
• Remove- dispose of potentially contaminated waste
• Decontaminate- apply disinfectant to stop
  contamination from going further
• Safety Awareness- watch for potential hazards and
  source of contamination

Immunizations Immunizations prevent infection.
The CDC recommends that you be immunized against
hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella,
and chicken pox.
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Personal Protective Equipment
TCG / Reach Therapy will supply and make
accessible appropriate personal protective
equipment consistent with the tasks being
performedEmployees of TCG / Reach Therapy must
assume responsibility to avail themselves of
required personal equipment. Policy Number HHA
9-006.1

• Anything that is used to protect a person from
  exposure
• Latex or Nitrile gloves, goggles, CPR mouth
  barriers, aprons, and respirators

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Hand Washing

• Hand washing is the single most important
  precaution against the spread of infection.
• Use antibacterial soap (if possible)
• Scrub hands for 10 15 seconds, washing all
  surfaces thoroughly
• Rinse using warm water and dry hands with a clean
  towel
• If no hand washing facilities are available, come
  prepared with a waterless hand washing agent.
• Always wash hands
• Immediately before and after patient contact
• Every time you remove gloves
• After using the restroom
• Before you eat
• Immediately following any obvious contaminations

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Infection Control Plan

• Follow your agencys Infection Control Program.
  This battle plan includes the Occupational Safety
  and Health Administrations (OSHAs) bloodborne
  pathogen standards, OSHAs tuberculosis control
  guidelines, and isolation precautions recommended
  by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
• The Care Group / Reach Therapy Infection Control
  Program includes surveillance of infection
  trends identification of types and sources of
  infections prevention of infections control
  measures to discourage the spread of infection
  and reporting of any infections to the
  appropriate agencies.

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Hazardous Materials/Wastes

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Hazardous Waste Disposal
• Accident/Incident Reporting

To ensure the protection of agency personnel,
patients, families/caregivers, and the community
through proper handling of contaminated
waste. Policy Number HHA 8-011.1
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OSHA

• OSHAs Hazardous Communication
• To ensure that employers and employees know about
  work hazards and how to protect themselves so
  that the incidence of illnesses and injuries due
  to hazardous chemicals is reduced.
• Hazardous Chemicals Must Include Labels which
  Indicate
• The identity of the chemical
• Appropriate hazard warning
• Name and address of the responsible party
• Policy Number HHA 9-013.1

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Hazardous Waste Disposal

• Always where gloves when handling hazardous
  wastes
• Contaminated Paper Wastes Place and secure in a
  plastic bag. Double bag and, if possible, place
  in a plastic trash container which is labeled
  appropriately.
• Sharps Needles, syringes, and razor blades
  should be placed in a puncture proof container
  and labeled as contaminated waste. The container
  should be bagged, secured, and returned to the
  office for appropriate disposal. NEVER recap,
  break, or bend needles.
• Blood and Bodily Fluids Pour down the toilet and
  immediately flush. Care should be taken to avoid
  splashing.
• Policy Number HHA 9-011.1

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Accident/Incident Reporting

• Employees are required to immediately report all
  work related injuries to their supervisor.
• State law and TCG/Reach Policy requires that
  injuries be reported in writing within
  twenty-four hours. Use the Accident/ Incident
  form to report all injuries.
• During orientation employees signed
  acknowledgment of TCG/Reach Therapy Workers
  Compensation Network. If you did not receive this
  information, please contact the HR department.

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Emergency Preparedness

• Emergency Preparedness Plan
• On-Call

To establish a plan which will allow for the
continuation of services in the event of a major
disaster. Policy Number HHA 8-016.1
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Emergency Preparedness Plan
The agency has developed the following emergency
preparedness plan for providing continuing
patient care and support at a safe and
therapeutic level in the event of a natural
disaster... Policy Number HHA 8-016.1

• An alternate site will be designated in the event
  the office must be evacuated or is not accessible
  due to an emergency.
• Clinical supervisors will be responsible for
  triaging all patient care.
• In all emergency situations, the Administrator or
  designee will maintain communications and act as
  the spokesperson between other facilities, media,
  and safety authorities.

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On-Call

• On call personnel are on a twenty-four hour
  paging system through the answering service.
• A current patient list with telephone numbers,
  addresses, and discipline types will be
  maintained by the Administrator on-call.
• In the event that a disaster or emergency takes
  place, the Administrator on-call will attempt to
  contact all clinical supervisors, who will in
  turn attempt to contact all patients that are
  involved in the potential disaster areas.
• When a patient is contacted, the patients
  immediate needs will be identified and
  documented.
• Policy Number HHA 8-016.A

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Fire Safety

• Types of Fires
• Types of Fire Extinguishers
• Extinguisher Use
• Fire Escapes

To delineate the fire response process for the
agency office. Policy Number HHA 8-003.1
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Types of Fires

• Class A - Wood, paper, cloth, trash
• Class B - Flammable liquids, oil, gas, grease
• Class C - Electrical, energized electrical
  equipment

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Types of Extinguishers

• All Purpose Water Extinguisher
• Use on CLASS A fires
• Wood, paper, cloth, and trash

• Carbon Dioxide Extinguisher
• Use on CLASS B and CLASS C fires
• Flammable liquids, oil, gas, grease
• Electrical, energized electrical equipment

• Dry Chemical Extinguisher
• Use on CLASS A, CLASS B, and CLASS C fires
• Wood, paper, cloth, and trash
• Flammable liquids, oil, gas, grease
• Electrical, energized electrical equipment

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PASS Use of Fire Extinguisher

• Always remember PASS when using a fire
  extinguisher. The following are guidelines for
  using a fire extinguisher on a small fire
• P Pull the pin from the handle
• A Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
• S - Squeeze the handle to activate the
  extinguisher
• S Sweep the nozzle on the base of the fire
  until the fire is out, stop.

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Fire Escape

• Guidelines for reacting to the discovery of fire
  remember RACE in case of fire
• R Rescue Rescue people in immediate danger if
  you can do so without putting your life in fear.
• A Alarm Activate the alarm from a pull
  station near you and call 911 or other emergency
  rescue team.
• C Confine Close windows, doors, and other
  openings, if you can do so safely.
• E Evacuate Evacuate the building as soon as
  you can by going to the closest exit.

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Disclaimer
All employees are responsible for understanding
and complying with The Care Group / Reach Therapy
policies and procedures. These policies and
procedures are found in Forms on Augusta
(J)/Archive/Policy/Home Health Policies and
Procedures Current.
Quiz
Once you have reviewed the Annual In-Service
PowerPoint, complete the Annual In-Service Quiz
and submit it to Jessica Coleman via e-mail
jcoleman_at_caregrp.com or fax [phone]. All
employees are required to take the Annual
In-Service Quiz and send it no later than June
15, 2012.