18 THE ADA PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE INFECTION CONTROL The Dental Team: Occupational Health and Education Any occupational health program should ensure dental team members: • Understand the principles of infection control • Are aware of work-related infection risks • Institute preventive measures • Receive prompt exposure management and medical follow-up Dental team members subject to occupational exposure should receive infection control training on initial assignment, when new tasks or procedures affect their occupational exposure, and, at a minimum, annually. The training program should address: • A description of their exposure risks • A review of prevention strategies and infection control policies and procedures • A discussion regarding how to manage work-related illnesses and injuries, including post-exposure treatment to prevent disease • A review of work restrictions associated with exposure or infection Inclusion of dental team members with minimal exposure risks (e.g., administrators) in education and training programs might enhance facility-wide understanding of infection control principles and the importance of the program. Coordination between the dental practice’s infection control coordinator and other qualified health care professionals is necessary to provide the dental team with all appropriate occupational health services. The majority of dental offices are in ambulatory, private settings that do not have licensed medical staff and facilities to provide complete on-site health service programs. In such settings, the infection control coordinator should establish site-specific infection control services from external health care facilities and providers before the dental team is placed at risk of exposure. Referral arrangements can be made with qualified health care professionals in an occupational health program of a hospital, with educational institutions, or with health care facilities that offer personnel health services. Choosing an Infection Control Coordinator It is recommended that every practice appoint an infection control coordinator. The infection control coordinator is in charge of developing and administering infection control policies and procedures that protect staff and patients from the spread of disease. Some of the duties of the coordinator may include, but are not limited to: • Preparing, reviewing and updating the practice’s infection control policies and procedures • Educating and training dental team members on infection control policies, procedures and engineering and work practices, such as the proper use of PPE • Monitoring the media for news of new infection control requirements and communicating these developments to the dental team • Keeping records of work-related injuries or illnesses, OSHA-required medical records, and equipment performance records (such as sterilization equipment) • Evaluating new products or equipment and training staff on their use • Conducting an annual assessment of sharps devices currently used in the practice and determining whether safer options are available • Making sure that employees comply with the practice’s infection control policies and procedures