Standard Precautions

Healthcare facilities providing services in which there is a risk of skin, eye, mucous membrane, or other close contact with human blood or other potentially infectious materials must practice Standard Precautions. Standard Precautions means the prevention of disease transmission through the use of infection control practices with all patients.

Sullivan County Community Hospital complies with the infection control practices required by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), which were adopted by Indiana law, Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) standards and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. The following infection control practices include, but are not limited to, those required by the Standard Precautions Rule and are used to prevent transmission of blood borne pathogens to patients and treating staff:

• Appropriate use of protective barriers, including gloves for hand contact, masks, gowns, laboratory coats, and protective eye-wear or face shields are used for procedures having the potential of creating a spray or splatter of blood or other potentially infectious material.
• Gloves, when required, are changed and hands are washed after each patient.
• Nondisposable instruments that are contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials are heat sterilized after treatment of each patient.
• Precautions are taken to prevent injuries caused by needles, scalpels, and other contaminated sharp instruments during procedures.
• Disposable contaminated sharps, needles, syringes, and other contaminated sharp objects are discarded in puncture-resistant containers.
• Surfaces and equipment contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials that need not be sterilized are cleaned and disinfected after treatment of each patient. Disposable coverings may be used on some surfaces to prevent contamination.
• Infectious waste is placed in containers labeled with the biohazard symbol, impervious to moisture and of sufficient strength to prevent breakthrough or leakage.
• Patient care staff receive training on infection control.
• The infection control procedures listed and others that are not readily observable protect you from disease transmission. Indiana law requires that health care facilities be committed to appropriate use of Standard Precautions. Any deviation from this commitment should be brought to the attention of the Infection Control Nurse. If you are not satisfied with the explanation of Standard Precautions provided by this facility you may file an official complaint with the Indiana State Department of Health by writing to the following address:

Indiana State Department of Health
c/o Universal Precautions Coordinator
133 West Michigan Street
P.O. Box 1964
Indianapolis, IN 46206-1964
(317) 633-0825