Health-care Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Health-care and links to relevant pages within the course.
Learn more about laboratory continuing education for medical technologists to earn CE credit for AMT, ASCP, NCA, and state license renewal and recertification. Or get information about laboratory safety and compliance courses that deliver cost-effective OSHA safety training and continuing education to your laboratory's employees.
| The type of health-care occupational exposure with the greatest risk of HIV transmission is: | View Page |
| Recognizing Biological Agents as WMDs Potential biological and chemical agents that might be used as weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are numerous, and preparing the nation to address these dangers is a major challenge. Early detection of and swift response to biological and chemical terrorism is crucial. This requires increased biological and chemical awareness by front-line health-care providers because they are in the best position to report suspicious illnesses. | View Page |
| Gloves Gloves must be worn for all procedures requiring vascular access.
Non-powdered latex gloves are most commonly used;
Alternatives available for health-care workers allergic to latex include:
Latex gloves sandwiched between 2 vinyl gloves.
Latex-free glove liners.Do not use latex gloves or tourniquets when collecting blood from patients with latex allergy. | View Page |
| Allergies Posted signs should alert you to patient allergies. Some patients may be allergic to latex gloves or tourniquets, or to iodine.Avoid using latex in case of allergy. Latex allergies are fairly common, and can be severe.
May health-care institutions have reduced the use of latex because of allergies, but complete elimination of latex in the hospital environment is difficult, since it is a component of many medical products. | View Page |
| Needlestick safety and prevention act The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act was passed by Congress in November 2000.
This law modifies the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to require that health-care institutions use only needles and other sharps which have engineering controls and design features to help prevent accidental sharps injury.
Health care institutions must update their exposure control plans to reflect these changes.
| View Page |
| Records and Results Skin tests are read 48-72 hours after injection by a trained health-care worker such as a physician or nurse.The diameter of any induration is measured in millimeters.Records of the test are kept in the individual's health record for future reference. | View Page |
| CDC Risk Categories CDC has identified three risk categories in health-care settings: A low risk healthcare setting is one in which HCWs will most likely not be exposed to persons with TB disease or to clinical specimens that might contain M. tuberculosis. A medium risk healthcare setting is one in which the HCW will or might possibly be exposed to persons with TB disease or to clinical specimens that might contain M. tuberculosis. A potential ongoing transmission healthcare setting is temporarily applied to any setting if there is evidence of person-to-person transmission of M. tuberculosis in the past year. | View Page |
| References Pratt R, Robison V, Navin T. Trends in tuberculosis. MMWR/57(11);281 - 285; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: March 21, 2008. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5711a2.htm Last accessed on May 23, 2008.Respiratory Protection in Health-Care Settings Fact Sheet. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/99-143.html. Last accessed May 23, 2008. Slide set - Guidelines for preventing the transmission of M. Tuberculosis in Healthcare settings, 2005. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/tb/pubs/slidesets/InfectionGuidelines/program.htm Last accessed on May 23, 2008.Tuberculin Skin Testing Fact Sheet. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/TB/pubs/tbfactsheets/skintesting.htm Last accessed on May 23, 2008. | View Page |