Tag Archives: blood borne pathogens

Pennsylvania Dentist Suspended for Infection Control Negligence. Patients Encouraged to get Viral Testing

 

SHAMOKIN– Dr. Vincent Paczkoskie , a dentist in Shamonkin, PA practicing for over 40 years, has had his license suspended after Pennsylvania State Health Officials found he did not follow appropriate protocols to sterilize and disinfect instruments.  Inspectors found several violations including:  No evidence of instruments being sterilized during several weeks in June  2014, not having a contract with a Bio-Medical Waste Disposal Company and several other procedural  issues with regards infection control in the office.

Currently there are  no reports of patients being infected with life threatening viruses but the Pennsylvania  Department of Health is recommending current and former patients be tested for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV.

https://on.aol.com/video/dentist-accused-of-exposing-patients-to-hiv-518272335

Written by Jill Obrochta and Heather Whitt of Dental Enhancements.

 

Dental Office: Is Free OSHA Really Worth It?

We’ve all been there:  The Supply Rep brings in a decadent sandwich tray, you are eyeing the chocolate chip cookies, wondering if it’s worth the indulgence.  Then you decide, you really must munch on something sweet just to tolerate the next 45 minutes of OSHA yammering!  Is the free lunchtime OSHA really worth it?

Well, let’s face it:  Free is free. And while you may get a review of safety laws and the convoluted requirements of OSHA, nothing free really amounts to much.  Especially, when the OSHA Inspector shows up at your dental office ready to shoot holes through your Free OSHA Compliance Program.  (Uggh… Agida!  <hick-up>)

Let’s avoid the belly-aching and review the proper, comprehensive way to set up your OSHA Compliance Program.  A really good OSHA Compliance Program will have (3) components. Don’t leave any of these out:

1.   Have an Annual OSHA Employee Training Session

A proper OSHA Training Session requires you review and fully understand up to (23) areas of compliance.  Make sure you have a certificate that references all 23 areas and that all employees sign off on this.

2.  Obtain & Fill-Out All Required OSHA Employee Paperwork

There are (5) required forms for each employee to fill out.  Make sure your receptionists and part-timers are included in this paper fiasco too.  Everyone must comply.

3.  Make Sure Your Facility is up to Complete OSHA Compliance

Choose a compliance company that has expertise in all OSHA regulations for the dental office.  One that can offer a customized facility report for your office then help you get the recommendations into place.

So in the end, there really are no “free lunches”.  Get yourself aligned with an OSHA Training Company that provides the “whole enchilada”.  It’s easier on the palate and won’t come back up on you later.  <burrrp>

 

Written by Jill Obrochta & Heather Whitt of Dental Enhancements

 

Is a sharps container required in each Dental Office operatory?

 

To be compliant with OSHA guidelines, the answer is yes! Clinical employees should be disposing of soiled sharps in all operatories “at the point-of-use”. All used sharps (needles, carpules, damaged instruments and extracted teeth) which are contaminated with blood or saliva should be treated as if infectious. Sharps containers in your dental operatory should be part of your Engineering Controls and Work Practices per OSHA’s Blood Borne Pathogens Standard.

Not only are sharps containers required in each treatment room, so are small red bags. The logic here is to reduce the re-handling of any type of soiled waste, be it soft or sharp. It makes sense, disposing of soiled waste at the point-of-use immediately reduces the risk of infection and injury to the employee.

 

So, it becomes clear: employees cannot walk around or re-handle any soiled waste. Taking this into consideration, how do we accomplish this end without creating countertop clutter? Let’s face it, no one wants do have ugly red containers screaming biohazard in their operatories. Most times we want our ops to be relaxing and serene as well as aesthetically pleasing. We don’t want them to look clinical and potentially infectious, reminding patients of an uncomfortable hospital setting or worse. In recent years, dental offices have gone to great lengths to create the feel of a “day spa” not a biohazard wasteland.

 

How can we be compliant without sacrificing a peaceful, calm, aesthetic environment? While these sharps containers (and small red bags) do need to be present in the ops, they don’t need to be visible. Placing them in a cupboard is an easy way to keep employees safe and keep your operatory looking pretty. Another alternative is to have custom-cut, drop down disposal portals designed into your countertops. (Speak to your dental supplier to get a quote on this aseptic dental operatory feature).

 

So, the advantages are clear. So is the law. If you have not yet done so, make sure you place a small sharps container and red bag in each of your treatment rooms. The benefits outweigh the risk. Just do it!

 

Written by Jill Obrochta and Heather Whitt of Dental Enhancements