Phenelle Segal Discusses Hand Hygiene With ASC Focus

ICCS Founder Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC, discusses hand hygiene in the September issue of ASC Focus, the official magazine of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association.

The column is titled "Splash, Soap, Rinse, Dry: How to assess hand hygiene and stay compliant."

As the column notes, despite years of hard work to pro­mote and attain hand hygiene com­pliance in the health care setting, the industry continues to struggle to achieve goals that are set by external agencies and within the facilities themselves.

In addition to providing insight for the column, Phenelle also offers seven tips for hand hygiene compliance in an accompanying sidebar.

View the ASC Focus column by clicking here.

Phenelle Segal to Present Infection Prevention Pre-Meeting Workshop for OAASC

ICCS President Phenelle Segal will present a pre-meeting infection prevention (IP) workshop for the Ohio Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (OAASC) 2016 Annual Conference.

This daylong IP pre-session will take place September 14 from 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The session is described as follows:

"Accrediting bodies, ODH and Medicare — oh my! They are cracking down on infection prevention more than ever before! You and your center MUST have ongoing training, acceptable protocols in place and in-service training. There are also numerous items being inspected in ASCs that have never been reviewed before.

"There is only one place in Ohio to get AFFORDABLE training and resources you need for your center. No need to travel to expensive trainings elsewhere that often cover far more than you and your ASC need when you can get in Ohio.

"Our daylong pre-session ... in advance of our annual multidisciplinary conference will cover the multitude of issues and concerns facing ASC professionals on a wide range of infection prevention topics.

"Our two new national experts Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC, and President of Infection Control Consulting Services, and Carol Jorgensen, RN, MSN, MBA, and Perioperative Technical Consultant from 3M Infection Prevention Division, will provide a fast-paced, informative, packed program with excellent, evidence-based information to help you build and enhance your current IP program or develop a new one.

"Attendance will meet CMS and ODH requirements for infection prevention continuing education. All participants will receive a certificate of participation, information for in-service training and continuing education."

The OAASC conference runs throughout September 16. It is an event exclusively for Ohio ASC professionals, including IP directors, administrators, nurses, business managers and coders.

Attendees of the conference that would like to arrange an on-site meeting with Phenelle can contact her by filling out the form here.

Phenelle is scheduled to speak at two other state ASC association meetings this year:

ICCS Publishes Special Report on Surgical Attire in the OR

ICCS Founder Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC, has published a new special report discussing regulations and guidelines concerning surgical attire worn in the operating room (OR).

The report addresses the recently published statement on professional attire for surgeons from the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

While Segal praises the value of organizations bringing attention to infection prevention issues, she notes that "... aspects of the statement have created significant confusion amongst hospital and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) staff," specifically concerning head coverings.

Read the ICCS special report on surgical attire compliance.