RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR HOSPICE IN ARKANSAS

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR HOSPICE IN ARKANSAS
SECTION 10: INFECTION CONTROL
Agency #007.05
Each hospice shall develop an infection control program which protects patients, family
and personnel from nosocomial or community acquired infections.
A. The hospice shall develop and use a coordinated process that effectively reduces
the risk of endemic and epidemic nosocomial infections in patients, health care
workers and visitors.
B. It shall be the duty of the Administrator or his/her designee to report all known
infectious or communicable diseases as required by Ark. Code Ann. § 20-7-109 to
the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services and Human Services,
Division of Epidemiology.
C. There shall be policies and procedures establishing and defining a comprehensive
Infection Control program to include:
1. Provisions for education of universal precautions to patients, families, and
hospice employees including but not limited to:
a) Hand hygiene including procedures for soap and water as well as
alcohol based hand rub if used;
b) Disinfections;
c) Liquid and solid waste disposal of infectious waste;
d) Needle disposal; and
e) Other means of limiting the spread of contagion.
2. A plan for monitoring and evaluating all aseptic and sanitation techniques
employed in the hospice to ensure that approved infection control procedures
are followed.
D. There shall be an orientation program for all new health care workers concerning the
importance of infection control and each health care worker's responsibility in the
infection control program.
E. There shall be a plan for each employee to receive annual in-services and
educational programs as indicated based on assessments of the infection control
process.
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