Don’t get Infection Control lessons THE HARD WAY

like Dr Excel * (not his real name)

Dr Excel had a set of Infection Control procedures in place that were good

– In fact his systems were VERY GOOD

– but UNFORTUNATELY they were just NOT Good Enough

After an Inspector came knocking on his door UNANNOUNCED

he was surprised to discover his practice had been assessed as a risk to the public,

He was subsequently suspended from dental practice for TEN WEEKS

“It has cost me nearly $250,000 in LOST INCOME and LEGAL FEES” – he said

Because the IC Laws have dramatically changed, evolved

and become MORE COMPLEX in the past FIVE YEARS ……..

... Announcing the ONLY Full Day Seminar that will provide;

1/  ALL the Mandatory Infection Control Education and Training PLUS

2/  Your Own Ready to Customise Infection Control Manual Kit PLUS

3/  The Essential PAPERWORK you MUST have for an IC Audit

Are you “READY FOR INSPECTION” –  Do a TEST HERE

NEW - YouTube Channel with OVER 40 Training Videos

! YOU can choose to do it the HARD Way ! 

! Or choose to do it the EASY Way ! 

Since last year’s Suspensions of numerous NSW dentists see the SMH,

the Dental Council has recently suspended yet more dentists in Kogarah for breaches of Infection Control Standards, and has recently announced in a message sent to all NSW Dentists that ANY DENTIST with an open complaint managed by the Dental Council may be the subject of an Infection Control Audit

 - CLICK HERE TO READ THE LETTER AGAIN 

Read about the latest Dental Practice Suspensions 

on the DoH Website HERE

The Standards are ENFORCEABLE under the National LAW

Infection Control Standards are defined by the Dental Board of Australia

who have published Guidelines on Infection Control (DOWNLOAD)

that are enforceable as “appropriate professional conduct”

under the Provisions of Section 41 of the National Law

The Dental Board of Australia Guidelines require that;

Every dental practitioner and student must:

act in accordance with the requirements set out

in the four documents referred to; 

The FOUR References Documents in the DBA Guidelines for “office based” dental practice are;

1/ Australian Standard AS/NZS 4815:2006

2/ Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2010) - NHMRC

3/ ADA Guidelines for Infection Control ~ Third Edition

The above three documents are 97, 279 and 56 pages respectively  = 432 in TOTAL

4/  “A manual setting out the infection control protocols and procedures used in that practice, which is based on the documents listed (in)  these Guidelines and with reference to the concepts in current practice noted in the documents listed under References in these Guidelines”

HOWEVER  ~ Applicants for initial registration or renewal of registration as a dental practitioner or student will be required to make a declaration that they are aware of their infection status for blood-borne viruses and that they will comply with;

5/ Australian National Guidelines for the Management of Health Care Workers known to be Infected with Blood- Borne Viruses. Communicable Diseases Network Australia

ALSO the DBA give an EXTRA reference to Various Standards of ACSQHC - SafetyandQuality.gov.au

6/  ACSQHC Advisory A 13/06 for Dental Practices 

7/  ACSQHC Advisory A15/03 for Dental Services (Govt. Clinics)

AND additionally in NSW there are enforceable NSW WorkCover specific Infection Control Codes of Practice

8/ WorkCover Code of Practice for the control of work-related exposure to hepatitis and HIV (Blood-Borne) Viruses

AND Australia wide an enforceable NOHSC National Code of Practice

9/ The National Code of Practice for the Control of Work-Related Exposure to Hepatitis and HIV (Blood-Borne) Viruses NOHSC:2010 (2003) as adopted by WorkCover NSW as the approved industry Code of Practice in NSW

ADDITIONALLY "Dental Services" in NSW may be required to show just cause why they did not comply with these additional NSW Dept. of Health Guidelines and Policies. 

10/ NSW  Dept of Health Protocols and Policies

? ? HAVE YOU READ ALL 432 PAGES OF THE 3 KEY REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

AND INCORPORATED THE PROTOCOLS INTO YOUR OWN MANUAL ? ?

! YOU can choose to do it the HARD Way !

! Or choose to do it the EASY Way ! 

 IN PORT MACQUARIE MONDAY JUNE 13th

* ESSENTIAL INFECTION CONTROL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The D.B.A. announced Infection Control Obligations in  July 2015

Ongoing infection control education and training requirements for dental practitioners

As a registered dental practitioner, you must meet the requirements of our Continuing professional development registration standard.

We also expect you to continue to maintain and update your knowledge throughout your career across all areas of your practice, and recommend that you regularly undertake a continuing professional development (CPD) course in infection control.

Doing this will help you attain and maintain contemporary knowledge of the required standards, policies and procedures in infection control, and understand the science behind these requirements.

The Dental Board of Australia Guidelines Reference Documents VARIOUSLY state;

NHMRC at Page 216;

C3.2 Healthcare worker education

Healthcare facilities should provide specific education and training for all healthcare workers and students about infection prevention and control principles, policies and procedures that are relevant to the facility. The aim is to inform and educate healthcare workers about the infectious hazards they will face during their employment, and their role in minimising the spread of infection to others. Special attention should be given to advice about hand hygiene (see Section C3.4). The role of clinical educators in providing this education needs to be supported, as they provide a vital link between teaching and healthcare facilities. 

At a minimum, all staff (both clinical and non-clinical) should be educated about:

• modes of transmission of infectious agents

• risk identification, assessment and management strategies including transmission-based precautions

• orientation to the physical work environment with a focus on its risks for infection

• safe work procedures

• correct use of standard precautions

• correct choice and use of PPE, including procedures for putting on and removing PPE and fit checking of respirators

• appropriate attire (shoes/hair/nails/jewellery)

• hand hygiene practices (see case study in Section C3.4)

• levels of cleaning required for clinical areas and equipment

• how to deal with spills

• safe handling and disposal of sharps

• reporting requirements of incidents such as sharps injuries and exposures

• waste management

• antibiotic policy and practice.

TRAINING OF STAFF WORKING IN THE INSTRUMENT REPROCESSING AREA

Management should ensure that personnel involved in the cleaning, disinfecting, sterilization, storage and distribution of items are trained and educated to enable them to correctly undertake any task that they will be required to perform.  – AS4815 2006 Page 8

Clinical support staff cleaning and reprocessing instruments must be provided with formal training in the relevant procedures ADA IC Guidelines Page 18

  The Dental Board of Australia expects all Registered Dental Practitioners to attend Infection Control training during the current THREE YEAR CPD Cycle and have evidence to prove it and

The Dental Council of NSW expects all dental staff to have completed Infection Control training in the past TWO YEARS

What to  expect when the Inspector makes his unannounced visit;

You will need to prove you have A HARD COPY or access to FOUR KEY DOCUMENTS;

1/ The Relevant Australian Standard ASNZS 4815  for dental offices or ASNZS 4817 for Dental Services

* ADA NSW have arranged a SPECIAL DISCOUNT PURCHASE (HERE) for ASNZS 4815

2/ Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2010) - NHMRC

 3/ ADA Guidelines for Infection Control ~ Third Edition   AND

4/  Your OWN Dental Office Infection Control Manual which DBA states must be;

“A manual setting out the infection control protocols and procedures used in that practice, which is based on the documents listed”  

The ADA Guidelines for Infection Control advise;

Infection control manual

Each practice must develop a comprehensive infection control manual pertinent to the daily routines of the practice. It must describe the infection control procedures for the practice as a whole and be used as the foundation for training dental staff.

All staff in the practice must know who is responsible for ensuring certain activities are carried out and to whom to report any accidents or incidents.

Information and specifications in the manual must include:

• methods of hand hygiene (both routine and surgical);

• personal protective equipment requirements;

• setting up the treatment area between patients;

• environmental cleaning protocol;

• defined zones that require barrier protection and cleaning between patients;

• protocol following an exposure incident, e.g. a sharps injury;

• handling and disposal of sharps;

• waste disposal;

• processing of reusable items (cleaning, packaging, sterilisation, disinfection, storage);

• processing of radiographs in a manner to avoid cross-contamination;

• quality control mechanisms including documentation for the maintenance and monitoring of equipment;

• immunisation requirements;

• single-use items;

• recording of information during patient treatment in a manner to avoid cross-contamination;

• use of computers and computer-run equipment during patient treatment in a manner to avoid cross- contamination;

• management of waterlines used in direct patient contact; and

• handling latex allergy in dental patients and dental staff.

Practice infection control manuals must be regularly updated if and when new guidelines are produced by the Dental Board, the ADA and the NHMRC.

? Do you have an UP-TO-DATE Infection Control Manual

based on ALL the Reference Documents ? 

HAVE YOU UNDERTAKEN RECENT INFECTION CONTROL CPD

AND DO YOU HAVE THE EVIDENCE TO PROVE IT ?

The current Dental Council of NSW Infection Control Audit Checklist refers to;

1.  No fewer than NINETY ONE Protocol Points that you MUST be able to satisfy the Inspector that you are undertaking

2.  You MUST have implemented a BCI instrument tracking system and have LOG Books for the UltraSonic and Autoclave in accordance with the letter from the Dental Council

 3.  You MUST have completed a .....

Dental Board of Australia Infection Control Guideline Self-Audit Tool

.... and should have passed on ALL the QUESTIONS

4.  You must have records of all Autoclave Validation tests in accordance with ASNZS 4815 or 4187 such as IQ and OQ records but in particular you must have current evidence of both tests for PQ Performance Qualification - Mechanical and Biological

ADDITIONALLY in order to comply with all the DBA Infection Control reference documents, WorkCover and WorkSafe Requirements and Infection Control requirements for ADA QIP Accreditation you will need;

·       Eleven LOG Books

·       Ninety ONE Procedure and protocols – preferably written

This Seminar has the potential to save you thousands of dollars that you may be currently wasting on unnecessary Infection Control protocols

One dental office has  already saved in excess of  $50,000 dollars per year with just one simple change of policy

 CAN’T COME ? Here are Some FREE ONLINE Infection Control Resources;

SELF  ASSESSMENT AUDITS

1/ DBA Infection Control Self Audit Tool

2/  Hand Hygiene Australia Self Assessment Audit

3/  WorkCover Emergency Plan

4/  ACSQHC Accreditation Audit tools

5/ Draft-Guide-for-Dental-Practices-Standard

6/ Queensland  OHSAT

ONLINE TRAINING for Infection Control 

New - YouTube Channel with OVER  40 Infection Control Videos

http://infectionprevention.e3learning.com.au

http://education.safetyandquality.gov.au/login.php

Hand Hygiene Resources for Dental Practices

OH and the CHECKLIST for what you will be missing

in Port Macquarie this Queen’s Birthday Weekend June 11 to 13

1/ The Tourism Video

2/ The FUN – 52 Things to do in Port Macquarie

3/ The Whale Watching  - Peak of the Season

4/ Accommodation Bookings - In case you changed your mind