Occupational and Patient Safety

1
Occupational and Patient Safety

• By Colleen Stevens
• Todd Wilson
• Mike Blessee
• Gabby Andrade
• Jeremy Magruder

2
Table of Contents

• Introduction to the V.A.M.C
• Occupational Environmental Safety Organizations
• Industrial Hygiene
• Indoor Air Quality
• Asbestos
• Noise
• Illumination

• Morgue
• Dental Lab
• Hazardous Waste
• Emergency Management Program
• V.A. Patient Safety Center
• Labs
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgments

3
Introduction to the VAMC

• 327 bed facility
• State-of-the-Art Spinal Cord Injury Center
  Traumatic Brain Injury Center
• Affiliated with the USF College of Medicine
• A hospital only for active duty personnel and
  veterans

4
Occupational and Environmental Safety
Organizations

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Occupational Safety Health Administration
  (OSHA)
• Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Health
  Organizations (JCAHO)
• Department of Transportation (DOT)

5
Asbestos

• Chrysotile used as insulation, fireproofing, and
  soundproofing
• Causes asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma
• Tests conducted with vacuum pump and filter
• Filter is sent to lab to determine concentration
  of asbestos fibers

6
Noise

• Measured by a noise dosimeter
• Noise is measured in decibels
• Permissible Exposure Level is 90 dBA during an 8
  hr. shift

7
Illumination

• Light can be measured in lux or footcandles
• Main focus of light sampling at the V.A. is in
  the stairwells
• Measured with a handheld light level sampling
  device

8
Morgue

• Major concern is exposure to formaldehyde
• TB and AIDS are also major concerns during
  autopsies
• Staff are required to wear TB masks while
  performing autopsies

9
Dental Lab

• Staff works with acrylic powder which can be
  harmful if inhaled
• Provide denture making services
• Staff work with the onsite Dental Clinic
• Staff must wear protective eyewear while in the
  lab

10
Hazardous Waste

• Includes biological and chemical waste
• Common chemical wastes are lead and alcohol at
  the V.A.
• Most common way of disposing of hazardous wastes
  is incineration

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VAMC Emergency Management Program

• Focuses on decontamination of patients during an
  attack
• Have multiple Level B suits and two Level A
  training suits
• 3 zones of contamination hot, warm, and cool

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V.A. Patient Safety Center

• Focuses include patient falls, safe and
  appropriate use of restraints, safe handling and
  moving of patients, pain, pressure ulcers, and
  safe transition from acute care to home.
• One key goal of the center is to promote
  personal freedom, dignity, and safety for persons
  with impaired mobility.

13
Patient Safety Labs

• Brand new Patient Safety Stimulation Lab
• Biomechanics Research Lab
• Gait and Balance Lab
• Patient Safety Engineering Labs

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Conclusion

• We learned many different things from the people
  we worked with at the V.A. hospital.
• We feel that we have gained valuable knowledge
  that we will hopefully be able to put to good use
  in the future.
• All of us are very grateful that we were able to
  have the experiences we had there.

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Acknowledgements

• Thanks to
• Debbie Ferekides
• James Watson
• Victor Ramos
• Dave Ventura
• Roger Moses
• Ivonne Lopez
• Doctor Vega
• Aurora Sanchez

• Special Thanks to
• Ellen Kent
• Panta Rouhini
• John Schaffer
• Anita Rajan
• Marie Denis
• Kiesha Cutler
• Diana Parzik