A Combined Program in Operation

Extract

Within any hospital setting, an active employee health and infection control program working together can be an effective way of preventing the spread of any disease from patient to employee or from employee to patient. The two programs at Lehigh Valley Hospital Center have worked actively together since the hospital opened ten years ago and have successfully developed many systems for follow-up care of employees, including puncture wounds, blood exposures, and infectious diseases. Ongoing staff educational programs have been given to include personal hygiene, handwashing, and hepatitis. Although each department reports to a different administrator, this has not affected the overall effectiveness and operation of either department.