Infection Control Policy
Recent developments with Covid-19 have led to increased diligence and awareness of infection transmission and control. Breastfeeding is the best thing you can do to protect your baby during these times. Breast milk gives your infant with important immune system-boosting compounds that no other feeding method provides. I want to assist you to ensure that you are able to give your baby the best nutrition and immune support at this time.
Home visits by health professionals are a convenient and easy way to obtain personalized health education, information, assessments and recommendations. In-person assessments are crucial when there are concerns about infant and maternal well-being. A full breast assessment, infant oral assessment, infant weights (to determine the amount of milk they are taking in during a feed), proper assessment of breastfeeding positioning, etc, cannot be reliably performed via telephone or online video conferencing.
As an experienced Registered Nurse, I am fully aware of Provincial infection control policies, and have adapted them into my unique practice. Here, I have outlined the materials I use in my assessments, and the methods I use to best protect my clients and their infants.
Please feel free to contact me via phone or email with any questions or concerns.
Handwashing
I believe that diligent hand hygiene is the best way to protect you and your family from pathogens and illness. I keep hand sanitizer in my car and use it prior to entering your home. At the beginning of each home visit, I will wash my hands thoroughly with soap and water. I will practice proper hand hygiene throughout our visit by using hand sanitizer, or by washing with soap and water when necessary (as you know, babies are full of unexpected surprises!).
I believe that diligent hand hygiene is the best way to protect you and your family from pathogens and illness. I keep hand sanitizer in my car and use it prior to entering your home. At the beginning of each home visit, I will wash my hands thoroughly with soap and water. I will practice proper hand hygiene throughout our visit by using hand sanitizer, or by washing with soap and water when necessary (as you know, babies are full of unexpected surprises!).
Home Visit Bag
I use a full size rolling luggage to carry my supplies to home visits. During our visit, I will keep my bag near your home entryway and will access only the materials that are needed. Supplies are kept in separate containers within this bag, which are only opened when necessary. Each item that is used during a visit is wiped with lysol or medical grade antiseptic wipes after each use.
I use a full size rolling luggage to carry my supplies to home visits. During our visit, I will keep my bag near your home entryway and will access only the materials that are needed. Supplies are kept in separate containers within this bag, which are only opened when necessary. Each item that is used during a visit is wiped with lysol or medical grade antiseptic wipes after each use.
Use of Gloves
I use disposable, latex-free nitrile gloves to conduct infant oral assessments. The box of gloves is always kept in my home visit bag and is only accessed by me. While conducting my assessment, I am fully aware of not touching other surfaces, other than your baby, with my gloved hands. At the end of the oral assessment, I will dispose of my used gloves and use hand sanitizer.
I use disposable, latex-free nitrile gloves to conduct infant oral assessments. The box of gloves is always kept in my home visit bag and is only accessed by me. While conducting my assessment, I am fully aware of not touching other surfaces, other than your baby, with my gloved hands. At the end of the oral assessment, I will dispose of my used gloves and use hand sanitizer.
Infant Scale
The scale is wiped with Lysol or medical-grade antiseptic wipes before and after each use. A disposable change pad liner is placed on the scale before weighing the baby. The change pad liner is disposed of after each use.
The scale is wiped with Lysol or medical-grade antiseptic wipes before and after each use. A disposable change pad liner is placed on the scale before weighing the baby. The change pad liner is disposed of after each use.
Tablet
I use a tablet with a keyboard to chart information from our visit and to show applicable teaching videos and websites. During each visit, I keep it on a nearby table or other surface during each visit in order to record pertinent information. It is wiped down with antiseptic wipes at the conclusion of each home visit.
I use a tablet with a keyboard to chart information from our visit and to show applicable teaching videos and websites. During each visit, I keep it on a nearby table or other surface during each visit in order to record pertinent information. It is wiped down with antiseptic wipes at the conclusion of each home visit.
Paper Forms/Folder
I do not keep or store paper records from our visits. However, I use paper copies of growth charts and tongue tie assessment tools. A separate file is kept for each client and only your folder will enter your home. Folders from other clients that day are kept in a locked box in my car. (An additional note with regards to privacy: these paper copies are scanned and uploaded to my secure online EMR platform at the end of each day. The paper copies are then shredded).
I do not keep or store paper records from our visits. However, I use paper copies of growth charts and tongue tie assessment tools. A separate file is kept for each client and only your folder will enter your home. Folders from other clients that day are kept in a locked box in my car. (An additional note with regards to privacy: these paper copies are scanned and uploaded to my secure online EMR platform at the end of each day. The paper copies are then shredded).
Teaching Materials
All teaching materials (dolls, models, etc.) are wiped down with Lysol or medical-grade antiseptic wipes after each use. They are stored in their own separate case within my home visit bag. I only use teaching materials when necessary. When not in use, these items remain in my home visit bag, in their allocated case.
All teaching materials (dolls, models, etc.) are wiped down with Lysol or medical-grade antiseptic wipes after each use. They are stored in their own separate case within my home visit bag. I only use teaching materials when necessary. When not in use, these items remain in my home visit bag, in their allocated case.
Disposal of Gloves, Wipes, Change Pad Covers
I place each used disposable item in a plastic grocery bag (which I carry with me). At the end of our visit, I will have you dispose of the bag of used materials so I am not carrying disposable items from other home visits into clients’ homes.
I place each used disposable item in a plastic grocery bag (which I carry with me). At the end of our visit, I will have you dispose of the bag of used materials so I am not carrying disposable items from other home visits into clients’ homes.
