FACI LIT I E S MANAGEMENT
A review of the auditing frequency should be undertaken, and consideration given to minimising activity within affected areas. An agreed monitoring protocol for use during the episode should be drawn up and documented for future reference. This approach provides assurance that standards are being met while supporting organisations to ensure the safety of their employees and minimise the potential for spread of infection. Audits are a snapshot in time and are designed to provide assurance around the level of cleanliness within a given functional risk category and it is our collective responsibility to ensure they are meaningful, effective and we don’t create an industry out of the process.
Audits must be consistent in their approach, have clear accountability and responsibility to close out actions and involve key stakeholders. Consideration should be given to ensuring that joint audits are performed wherever possible to provide a rounded perspective as well as multi-level assurance of the standards being achieved. Importantly, if the purpose of audit is to improve patient care, we must consider the patient perspective and what’s more assuring to them from any audit process. The addition of the star rating as part of the new National standards aims to provide assurance to patients, but will it have the desired effect?
Harnessing the power of service user involvement
Another key strategy relates to the ability of organisations to harness learnings from COVID-19 and the impact on infection prevention as a tool to empower patients to be more involved in strategies to prevent the spread of infection. With any new standards or policies, it’s a key first step to put yourself in the shoes of the patient and think about what they’ll be experiencing because of the changes you make.
Award Winning ShuttlePouch™ Safely Send Your Biological Samples
Listening to service users and patients in any development or design is invaluable. Taking those interesting insights and ideas means what you eventually roll out has been created with your key users in mind, which has huge benefits to NHS staff and patients alike.
Because of COVID-19, people have a better understanding of why we do what we do and the practices we put in place to keep people safe in a healthcare setting, and we have an opportunity to harness
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