Five key strategies to mitigate high-consequence infectious diseases in hospitals

Diane Cullen
Vizient Accreditation Advisor, Accreditation Advisory Services

In recent years, the global healthcare landscape has faced numerous challenges posed by high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs). These diseases, such as Ebola, SARS and COVID-19, rapidly spread and have a significant impact on public health. Hospitals play a critical role in managing and containing these outbreaks. Effective July 2024, The Joint Commission revised its Infection Prevention Standards to include HCIDs. Here are five essential strategies that hospitals can adopt to have systemized prevention and measurements in place to comply with the new standards for HCIDs and ensure effective response and patient safety.

1. Establish an infectious disease task force: To effectively respond to HCIDs, hospitals should establish a multidisciplinary infectious disease task force with representatives from infection prevention, emergency management, nursing, pharmacy, laboratory and administration. The task force should be responsible for developing and implementing the hospital's preparedness plan, coordinating response efforts and ensuring ongoing education and training.

2. Develop a comprehensive preparedness plan: A well-defined preparedness plan is crucial for hospitals to effectively respond to HCIDs. This plan should include:

• Risk assessment: Identify the potential HCIDs the hospital may encounter and assess their impact on patient care and staff safety.
• Surveillance and monitoring: Implement systems for early detection, surveillance and monitoring of HCIDs within the hospital. Procedures for screening at the hospital's points of entry should be in place for respiratory symptoms, fever, rash and travel history.
• Communication protocols: Establish clear lines of communication within the hospital and with external stakeholders, such as local health departments and public health agencies.
• Staff training and education: Provide education, training and assess competencies for staff who will implement HCID response protocols.
• Resource management: Develop strategies for managing and allocating essential resources, such as PPE, medications and medical equipment.

3. Enhance infection prevention measures: To prevent the spread of HCIDs within the hospital, robust infection prevention measures are crucial. Hospitals should:

• Implement hand hygiene protocols and ensure easy access to hand sanitizers and handwashing stations.
• Develop and enforce protocols for respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.
• Enhance environmental cleaning and disinfection practices, especially in high-risk areas.
• Establish protocols for the appropriate use of PPE, ensuring proper training and availability of high-quality protective equipment.
• Implement patient isolation measures, including triage and segregation of suspected or confirmed HCID cases.

4. Collaborate with public health agencies: Close collaboration with local, state and national public health agencies is essential for effective HCID preparedness.

• Establish partnerships with public health agencies and participate in collaborative planning and information sharing.
• Follow public health guidelines and recommendations for HCID response and reporting.
• Collaborate on surveillance efforts, sharing data on suspected or confirmed cases to facilitate early detection and response.

5. Conduct regular drills and exercises: Regular drills and exercises help hospitals evaluate their preparedness and identify areas for improvement. Examples include:

• Conduct tabletop exercises and simulations to test the effectiveness of their preparedness plan and response protocols.
• Identify gaps and challenges during drills and exercises and revise the preparedness plan accordingly.
• Encourage staff participation and provide feedback and training based on lessons learned.

Preparation is key to effectively managing and responding to HCIDs in hospitals, helping to strengthen their response capabilities and ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers. By prioritizing HCID preparedness, hospitals can play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of future outbreaks and safeguarding public health.

Author

Diane Cullen, an accreditation advisor, is a nurse with over 25 years of experience in infection prevention and quality/performance improvement. Cullen earned an MSN in Population-based Infection Control and Prevention and an MBA in Healthcare Administration. She also is certified in infection control. Cullen has worked with The Joint Commission as both an associate director in standards interpretation and as a field surveyor in the hospital and ambulatory programs and recently joined Vizient. Cullen is passionate about patient safety and collaborating with healthcare organizations to facilitate their goals of delivering excellent patient care.