Perform Point of Care Risk Assessment (PCRA) using eAuditor
Point of Care Risk Assessment (PCRA) is a dynamic process used by healthcare workers to evaluate potential risks of infection transmission at the point of care. It involves assessing the patient, the task, and the environment before performing any procedure or interaction.
Performing a Point of Care Risk Assessment (PCRA) using eAuditor ensures a structured, real-time evaluation of infection risks before healthcare professionals interact with patients. PCRA is a critical step in infection prevention and control (IPC), helping assess risks associated with patient conditions, care procedures, and the surrounding environment. By using eAuditor, healthcare facilities can streamline assessments, improve documentation accuracy, and enhance compliance with safety protocols.
Key Steps in Conducting PCRA Using eAuditor
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Assessing Patient Risk Factors
A thorough patient risk assessment is essential to determine potential infection hazards. Key factors include:
- Symptoms and Medical History: Identify symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or rash, which could indicate a contagious disease.
- Known Infections: Review medical records for confirmed infections (e.g., tuberculosis, influenza, MRSA, COVID-19).
- Immunocompromised Status: Determine if the patient has conditions that increase their risk of infection, such as chemotherapy, HIV, or organ transplants.
- Isolation Requirements: Identify if the patient needs special precautions, such as contact, droplet, or airborne isolation measures.
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Evaluating the Procedure Risk
The type of procedure performed significantly determines infection control requirements. Using eAuditor, healthcare staff can assess:
- Level of Contact: Determine whether the procedure involves direct contact with the patient’s skin, mucous membranes, or open wounds.
- Exposure to Bodily Fluids: Evaluate risks related to blood, saliva, respiratory secretions, urine, or other potentially infectious fluids.
- Aerosol-Generating Procedures (AGPs): Identify if the procedure produces airborne particles that could spread infection (e.g., suctioning, intubation, nebulizer treatments).
- Use of Invasive Devices: Determine the necessity of catheters, IVs, or surgical instruments and assess their sterility.
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Examining the Environmental Risks
A proper PCRA also includes evaluating the patient’s surroundings, as environmental factors contribute to infection transmission. This assessment includes:
- Ventilation and Airflow: Ensuring adequate air exchange in patient rooms, especially in airborne precaution areas.
- Surface Contamination: Checking high-touch surfaces like bed rails, IV stands, and door handles for cleanliness.
- Availability of Hand Hygiene Stations: Ensure that alcohol-based hand rubs or sinks with soap and water are easily accessible.
- Medical Equipment and Linen Handling: Verifying that reusable medical tools are properly sterilized and that soiled linens are safely handled.
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Selecting Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Based on the identified risks, healthcare workers must use suitable PPE. eAuditor enables real-time selection and verification of PPE compliance, including:
- Gloves: Required for any direct patient contact or handling of contaminated materials.
- Face Masks: Surgical masks for routine care, N95 respirators for airborne precautions (e.g., TB, COVID-19).
- Eye Protection: Goggles or face shields for splash-prone procedures.
- Gowns and Aprons: Necessary for contact with infectious patients or hazardous materials.
- Proper Donning and Doffing: Ensuring staff correctly wear and remove PPE to prevent self-contamination.
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Ensuring Hand Hygiene Compliance
Hand hygiene is one of the most effective infection control measures. Using eAuditor, staff can track:
- Adherence to Hand Hygiene Protocols: Verifying that handwashing or sanitizing is performed before and after patient interactions.
- Availability of Hand Hygiene Supplies: Ensuring soap, hand sanitizers, and paper towels are always stocked.
- Hand Hygiene Training Records: Monitoring whether staff receive regular hand hygiene training.
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Implementing Infection Control Measures
To prevent the spread of infection, additional control measures may be required. eAuditor facilitates the assessment of:
- Proper Patient Isolation: Confirming that high-risk patients are placed in designated isolation areas.
- Disinfection and Sterilization: Ensuring cleaning protocols are followed for medical instruments, patient rooms, and communal areas.
- Proper Waste Disposal: Verifying that contaminated materials (e.g., used PPE, sharps, and medical waste) are disposed of correctly.
- Transmission-Based Precautions: Confirm adherence to protocols such as droplet precautions (e.g., wearing masks) or contact precautions (e.g., gloves and gowns).
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Digital Documentation and Compliance Tracking
eAuditor allows healthcare facilities to digitally record and monitor PCRA results, ensuring continuous improvement and regulatory compliance. Key benefits include:
- Real-Time Data Collection: Capture PCRA findings instantly on mobile devices.
- Automated Reports: Generate detailed compliance reports for infection control teams.
- Trend Analysis: Identify recurring infection risks and take proactive measures.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure alignment with CDC, WHO, and facility-specific infection control standards.
Summary
Performing a Point of Care Risk Assessment (PCRA) using eAuditor is a proactive approach to infection control. It helps healthcare professionals systematically assess patient risk, procedure safety, environmental conditions, and PPE requirements before engaging in patient care. This digital approach improves infection prevention, compliance, and patient safety by standardizing assessments, ensuring proper documentation, and enabling real-time risk mitigation.