Internal Disaster Situations

Internal Disaster Situations: immediately when and where directed to do so by sexual assault or domestic violence contact the The following code names will be announced over the the Unit Management. Department of Care Coordination/Social Work at 828- page system if an internal disaster situation occurs: Radiation Safety 0242. 1. Dr. Black – bomb threat At VCUHS, the main sources of radiation exposure include laboratories, patients, and X-ray 2. Dr. Comfort – heating or air-conditioning producing machines. Rooms with radiation failure sources are labeled with a Radiation symbol and 3. Dr. Data – Computer system is down say “Caution-Radioactive Materials” or 4. Dr. Gas – loss of medical gas and/or “Radioisotopes Used in this Room.” Do not suctioning function enter these rooms without first talking to 5. Dr. Green – hazardous material emergency VCUHS staff about protective equipment and exposure precautions. If you are in a room when 6. Dr. Hold – hostage situation an X-ray is to be performed, either leave the 7. Dr. Lift – elevator emergency room or put on the personal protective 8. Dr. Orange – internal infectious disease crisis equipment specified by the X-ray technician. 9. Dr. Pink – pediatric abduction 10. Dr. Power – utility failure MRI Safety Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses a large and Virginia Commonwealth University 11. Dr. Red – fire emergency powerful magnet to produce images of the body. The 12. Dr. Wet – flood emergency magnets are on 24 hours a day. Do not enter a MRI 13. Communication Disaster – Failure of scan room without first completing a MRI Safety telecommunication equipment Checklist to screen for metal objects (e.g., If you hear one of the above announcements remain pacemakers, surgical clips, metal fragments) and ORIENTATION with the patient and follow instructions of staff. During other risk factors. Always be cleared by a MRI an emergency or unusual situation, follow VCUHS staff technologist before entering the MRI scan room to for instructions. ensure your personal safety and the safety of others. For VENDORS MRI Safety questions call MRI at 8284494, or 828- Fire Safety: 0953. “Dr. Red” announced by over-head paging, indicates a providing fire or fire drill is in progress. If the location of the Dr Smoke Free Environment care, treatment, or services Red announced is in your area, you are to: VCUHS is a smoke free environment. No smoking is to patients  Close door to the patient room/exam area. allowed in or around any of our facilities.  Remain with the patient. Drug Free Workplace  Follow instructions from a VCUHS staff VCUHS expects all individuals providing care or member or the fire department. customer services in our environment to be able to do so competently and unimpaired by chemical substances. If Emergency Relocation & Evacuation you suspect an individual of being impaired in the  When the audible fire alarm and strobe lights performance of their duties, please report your concern activate in the Nelson Clinic, Ambulatory Care to the department manager of that area. If a vendor is Clinic, Gateway and A.D. Williams – Evacuate the suspected of being impaired, they will be reported to building immediately when directed to do so by the their agency and removed from their assignment. Patient Care Concerns Unit Management. If you need assistance in resolving patient care  When the audible fire alarm and strobe lights Reporting Suspected Abuse concerns, other VCUHS resources available to help you activate in the Main Hospital, North Hospital and All patients must be assessed for potential risk of child include: Patient/Guest Relations 804-628-0400; Clinical Clinical Care Hospital –be prepared to relocate to or adult abuse, neglect, sexual assault or domestic Administrator 804-628-0034: or Corporate Compliance the area designated by the Unit Plan. Relocate violence. If you suspect child or adult abuse, neglect, 804-828-0500. Externally you may contact, Virginia VCUHS Vendor Orientation Brochure May 2011 Department of Health’s Center for Quality Health Care organization are expected to support and respect these patient, and maintain patient safety/security while Services and Consumer Protection at 804-367-2104 or principles. waiting for staff. The Joint Commission at 1-800-994-6610.  If you observe a patient fall, do not attempt Introduction Confidentiality to move the patient. Call for help and remain with Welcome to VCU Health System. Though you are While here you may become aware of confidential the patient. employed by someone else, you are here at this time to medical information. Disclosure of confidential health provide care, treatment, or services to one of our information to any other person, or allowing any other Infection Control Instructions patients. While you are here, there are practices that you person access to, any information related to VCUHS To protect yourself and the patient: need to know to support your own safety as well as the which is proprietary or confidential and/or pertains to  Wash hands for 15 seconds before and after contact safety of our patients. This brochure is designed to employees, patients or patient care is strictly prohibited. with patient. Foam soap located outside patient explain our expectations for you while you are here and rooms may also be used. to identify resources that may be of assistance. Staff Identification Badges  Wear a gown and gloves with any potential contact All staff should be wearing a VCUHS issued with blood and/or body fluids. Reptrax Participation identification badge that will assist you in knowing As a vendor who provides services that affect patient who they are, their job at VCUHS, and how they might  Gloves do not replace hand washing! Hands should care, you are required to participate as a Reptrax assist you. be washed after removing gloves. member and to keep your profile active and current.  If further precautions are needed, VCUHS staff will Obtain a Reptrax ID badge upon arrival in Gateway Patient Identification provide additional instructions. lobby and display when providing services at VCUHS. It is essential that before you provide any patient care or treatment that you make sure you have the correct Respiratory Protection Competency patient. At VCUHS we use two patient identifiers. For In some areas, respirators (masks) are necessary to Prior to providing direct patient services, VCUHS will inpatients, we use the patient name and medical record protect you from harmful dusts, fibers, fumes, need to confirm through Reptrax that you have the number. For outpatients, we use the patient name and mists, gases, or vapors. Individuals who wear required credentials to perform the duties expected. In date of birth. Always confirm you have the correct respiratory protection must be fit-tested to addition, a representative from VCUHS will observe patient before proceeding with any type of service. determine if the respirator is providing an effective your performance to determine if the knowledge, skills, barrier. Persons, who may be exposed to and abilities you display support that you are competent Changes in Patient Condition tuberculosis, must be fit-tested for a specific (N- to provide patient service. If there is a concern If you observe what you perceive to be a decline in the 95) mask prior to entering a room where possible regarding competency, you will not be allowed to patient's condition, notify nursing staff immediately. exposure could occur. independently provide patient treatment or care. Remain with patient until help arrives and then follow instructions. Infectious Waste Customer Service Expectations Materials contaminated with blood or body fluids must We expect everyone who represents our organization, to Patient Falls be discarded properly. Always use standard precautions treat those with whom they interact with respect, VCUHS’ fall precaution program identifies patients when handling infectious or medical waste. Use red or courtesy and caring. VCUHS strives to provide equal with a high probability of falling by placing an orange orange bags to dispose of infectious waste materials. opportunities, services, and access to all persons without sticker on the patient’s door and giving the patient a Place infectious sharps in a red, biohazard labeled, regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national special identification band. If the patient you are seeing plastic sharps container that is no more than ¾ full. Do origin, disability, or veteran’s status. If you have is identified in this way, do not let the patient out of bed not mix non-infectious sharps with infectious sharps. difficulty communicating with a patient due to language unassisted. Call the nursing staff for assistance. differences, contact the Office of Language Services Chemotherapeutic Waste (628-1116) or ask a staff member for assistance in using Precautions for patients who are at risk for falls: Chemotherapeutic sharps and items visibly the language interpretative services phone.  Upper bed side-rails should remain in an upright contaminated with chemotherapeutic agents are to be position and the bed should remain at its lowest placed in black containers. Items used with Patient Rights and Responsibilities height. chemotherapeutic agents but not soiled are to be placed Patients are entitled to certain rights. We affirm the  If the patient attempts to climb over side-rails, in yellow bags. Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities posted notify a staff member immediately, remain with the throughout our organization and all persons serving our

VCUHS Vendor Orientation Brochure May 2011