RedheadedReptile
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 69
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 5:08 am Post subject: New law concerning patient charts
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I'm in a unit and Massachusetts, and recently the state came in and told them that they can no longer put the patient charts on top of the machine. If I want to look at my chart, I have to tell the charge nurse and she has to get it. It supposedly to protect patient privacy.<
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>The unintended consequence of this is that I can no longer see which patients have MRSA, since this was noted on the outside of the charts. I used to make note of it and avoid using the patient bathroom if that person had gone in there... I guess I no longer have the 'right' to know who's walking around with a potentially contagious organism.
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patient
Joined: 29 Oct 2002
Posts: 137
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:07 am Post subject: MRSA
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I think MRSA patients have to be dialyzed in isolation. Is this correct?
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Curious
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
Posts: 39
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:22 am Post subject: mRSA
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patients do not have to be in isolation for MRSA. They are dialyizing with everyone else.
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FRN
Joined: 24 Feb 2003
Posts: 25
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 8:24 am Post subject: MRSA
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MRSA patients do not have to be isolated unless it is a respitory MRSA. Otherwise the infected area should be bandaged and good handwashing used. <
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>Resp MRSA should have masks on and those who visit should also wear masks.
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keen
Joined: 19 Nov 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 10:23 am Post subject: MRSA
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What is MRSA? It sounds very contagious.
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FRN
Joined: 24 Feb 2003
Posts: 25
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 11:24 am Post subject: MRSA
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www.link.med.ed.ac.uk/RIDU/Mrsa.htm<
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>The above link is a site that has information about MRSA.<
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>Or you can go to any site and type in MRSA and you can find information about it. It really is easy. Educate yourself.<
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>MRSA is only contagious if people don't wash their hands and are sloppy when handling contamintated material like bandages or body fluids/ excreations.
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Well considering
Joined: 19 Nov 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 12:23 pm Post subject: my staff
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rarely washes hands and only changes gloves, and then touches unclean things they shouldn't touch, should I be concerned?
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AZgloria
Joined: 13 May 2003
Posts: 3
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 12:35 pm Post subject: MRSA
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Red I would guess this was the intended consequence of the new law, that patient privacy be protected by those walking by and gathering information about particular patients. I would be mighty steamed if another patient took my chart off my machine and checked it out.
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Lin
Joined: 28 Oct 2002
Posts: 337
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 3:12 am Post subject: Charts
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Our charts are kept in a rack behind the nurse's station. Nothing is noted on the outsides of charts. The only thing within my reach is the run sheet for my tx..<
>Staff where I go is good about infection control, however only wored masks when dealing with cath. pts.. However, recently when I asked why they wear masks all the time was told it's a new protocol. They also wear sheilds. I'm glad of it because last Winter a staff member had a horrible cold and before long just about everyone had a bad cold. I'm healthy aside from dialsyis and yet it hit me hard; to the older frail pts. a cold can be a disaster. When I had my cold kept my mouth covered. I'd feel awfull if I sneezed or coughed and someone next to me ended up sick. If I even use a tissue use my hand sanitizer that I keep in my purse.<
>Another poster was concerned about the bathrooms. I try not to overthink that, but learned how to wash my hands without recontaminating, don't touch down on seat (thanks Mom!), and carry hand sanitizer with me. Lin.
