______________________________ Infection Control for New York Health Care Professionals ‒ 2024 Update
ELEMENT I Healthcare professionals have the responsibility to follow scientifically accepted principles and practices of infection control in all healthcare settings and to oversee and monitor medical and ancillary personnel for whom the professional is responsible [1]. See Element I Glossary Content Outline I. Sources and Definition of Standards of Professional Con- duct as They Apply to Infection Prevention and Control. a. Rules of the Board of Regents, Part 29.2 (a)(13). b. Part 92 of Title 10 (Health) of the Official Compila- tion of Codes, Rules and Regulations of New York. c. Statements of relevant professional and national organizations. II. Implications of Professional Conduct Standards. a. Professional responsibility to adhere to infection control standards. b. Professional responsibility for monitoring and over- seeing the practice of others. c. Consequences of failing to follow accepted standards of infection prevention and control: 1. Increased risk of adverse health outcomes for patients and healthcare workers. 2. Healthcare professionals may be subject to charges of professional misconduct: a. Mechanisms for reporting misconduct. b. Complaint investigation. c. Possible outcomes. (1) Disciplinary action. (2) Revocation of professional license. (3) Professional liability. III. Methods of Compliance. Healthcare professionals have the responsibility to imple- ment work practices to avoid transmitting infectious agents in their workplace: a. Participation in required ICP training. b. Adherence to accepted principles and practices of ICP. Professional Responsibility and Liability: Section 92-2.1 Required Use of Infection Control Practices According to Part 92, Subchapter N of Title 10 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules, and Regulations of the State of New York: Implications of professional conduct standards and enforce- ment of infection control standards:
Individuals addressed in this legislation have the professional responsibility to adhere to infection control standards and monitor the practice of others. Consequences of failing to fol- low accepted standards of infection prevention and control not only increase the risk of adverse health outcomes for patients and health care personnel, but also make the individual subject to charges of professional misconduct. Misconduct may result in disciplinary action, revocation of professional license, and/ or professional liability. All licensed healthcare facilities are responsible under existing regulations for monitoring and enforcing proper use of infec- tion control practices and universal precautions by healthcare personnel functioning under their jurisdiction. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in NYSDOH cita- tion, potential fines, and other disciplinary action against the institution. Any patient or employee complaint regarding lax infection control practices in a private medical or dental office will prompt an investigation by the NYSDOH. Substantiated lapses in infection control in a private practice setting may result in charges of professional misconduct against any licensed pro- fessional in the practice who was directly involved, was aware of the violation or who has responsibility for ensuring that office staff is adequately trained and follow patient protection measures. The NYSDOH will continue to promulgate regula- tions and/or statutory amendments to implement these more stringent enforcement provisions. The New York State Education Department Rules of the Board of Regents, Section 29.2(a) (13)1, provides information on cur- rent cases, action, and sanctions resulting from unprofessional conduct [8]. See the resource section at the end of the course for further details involving unprofessional conduct in IPC. ELEMENT II Modes and mechanisms of transmission of pathogenic organ- isms in the healthcare setting and strategies for prevention and control [1]. See Element II Glossary The Infectious Disease Process I. Overview of components of the infectious disease process [1]. a. The “Chain of Infection” described by the CDC in 2012 is still used today: The traditional epidemiologic triad model holds that infectious diseases result from the interaction of agent, host, and environment. Transmission occurs when the agent leaves its reservoir or host through a portal of exit, is conveyed by modes of transmission, and enters through an appropriate portal of entry to infect a susceptible host. The prevention and control of infection involves blocking the links in the chain, disabling the progression and transmission of the infection to a new host.
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