Ambulatory Infection Prevention Resources

  • Outpatient Isolation Guidelines Reference Sheet

     

    Steps to take when a patient arrives with a known or suspected infection:

    1. Isolate the patient by:
      1. Asking the patient to wait in their car, outside, or in a separate area away from other patients.
      2. Respiratory illnesses – ask the patient to wear a surgical mask in the clinic.
      3. When ready to be roomed, call/text the patient to enter and bring the patient back to the exam room immediately.
    2. Perform Hand Hygiene and don proper PPE, according to the guidelines (see reference sheet below), before entering the exam room with the patient.
    3. Doff PPE after exiting the exam room and discard it in the biohazard bin. Perform hand hygiene.
    4. After the patient leaves the exam room, escort the patient out of the clinic, clean the exam room using the resource below.
    5. When airborne isolation is required (see reference sheet below), the exam room must be closed for one hour to allow for proper air exchange time. No one should enter that exam room without a N95 respirator.
    6. If a suspected or confirmed infection is indicated for a patient, an Infection Flag is required. Email infectionprevenionists@vumc.org to get the flag placed to alert clinics for future appointments.
      
    Additional Physician Guidance: 
    If a suspected or confirmed infection is indicated for a patient, an Infection Flag is required. Email infectionprevenionists@vumc.org or page the IP on call at 214-318-2873 to get the flag placed to alert clinics for future appointments or for more guidance.
    Required notification to Infection Prevention for known or suspected:
    1. Measles (approval to test)
    2. Mumps (approval to test)
    3. Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
    4. Blood-borne pathogen exposure for patient
    5. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
    6. Poliomyelitis
    7. Rabies
    8. Smallpox
    9. Anthrax
    10. CJD
    11. Plague (Yersinia pestis)
    12. Vaccinia

  • Click HERE for access to VUMC HLD & Sterilization Program Resources