Protocols for accomodation for MCSers needing health care

[Guest guest]

forwarding......

Southwest General Health Center (SWGHC)

Middleburg Heights, OH

POLICY 742

Effective July, 2002

POLICY NAME: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (MCS)

Policy

Southwest General Health Center will provide guidelines to ensure optimal

care of the patient experiencing Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) which

is mutually established with the patient, family/significant other and

health care team.

1. INTERPRETATION

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), also referred to as environmental

illness or chemical injury is a medical condition in which individuals develop

symptoms from exposure to very low level of chemicals in the environment.

The interdisciplinary team at SWGHC uses a collaborative process with the

patient, physician, family/significant other and the health care associates

to establish a safe environment, to promote healing and ensure comfort.

 

2. OBJECTIVES

An organizational approach to patient management with multiple chemical

sensitivities includes:

* Method to ensure patient is placed in a safe environment.

* Method to facilitate identification of a MCS patient.

* Method to verify competency of all associates providing direct and

supportive care to the patient with MCS

* Method to ensure patient's participation in developing their care

plan.

* Method to ensure patient/their families/significant others are

educated about the need to communicate about any special care required.

 

3. OVERSIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY

A coordinated organizational program to care for MCS patients will be

developed by an interdisciplinary team. This committee will have the

responsibility for assuring that all provisions of this policy are adhered to

throughout the organization. The team will have representatives from:

 

* Medical Staff

* Nursing Services

* Central Sterile Supply

* Protection Services

* Nutritional Services

* Plant Operations

* Environmental Services

* SSA's

* Pharmacy

* Social Services

* Administration

 

4. SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILTIES OF INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM

 

* Medical Staff -Physician: Provides special instructions,

treatments, diagnostic tests and medication orders. No treatments/medications

should

be administered to an MCS patient without prior approval of patient's

private physician unless a life threatening emergency exists.

* Nursing Services Role and responsibilities:

* Identify the patient with MCS

* Provide a safe patient care environment.

* Develop an awareness, sensitivity and respect of patients'

physical and emotional needs.

* Develop a plan of care on daily basis with minimum of one staff

member per each shift to attend medical needs of the patient.

* Comply with the following when caring for the MCS patient:

* be perfume and scent free (ie., no hair spray, no mousse gels,

lotions, cigarette/smoking smells).

* Do not use aerosol products (ie hair spray, deodorants).

Non-scented, potassium salts, pump deodorant is acceptable. Baking soda (dry).

* Do not wear new clothing which has not been laundered.

* Do not wear clothing which has been freshly dry-cleaned.

* Use only latex free gloves

* Wash hands and apply gloves before entering the patient's room.

* Be alert for any environmental triggers when following normal

hospital procedures.

 

* Central Sterile: Provides and ensures the unit with

* Latex free products

* Adequate supply of sterile linens

* Adequate supply of other medical core items (ie. Sponges,

dressings, securing devices).

* Patient can provide their own linens if other methods are not

satisfactory.

* Protection Services: Provides assistance from the vehicle to

hospital in a safe manner. (Turn vehicle engines off)

* Nutritional Services: Recognizes different food sensitivities and

follows certain guidelines to accommodate and meet individualized needs of

the MCS patient.

 

Special provisions may include but will not necessarily be limited to the

following:

* No processed foods of any kind including instant oatmeal, instant

potatoes, and other prepackaged mixes, ie., gravies, sauces, and flavor

packets as they may contain many additives.

* Use no dyes, preservatives, sulfites, artificial flavoring or MSG.

 

* Use no aerosol cooking sprays.

* Use no artificial sweeteners.

* Distilled water in glass containers to be provided by Nutrition

Services, or patient may supply his/her own tolerated water for drinking.

* Serve beverages which have not been processed with chemicals.

* Nutrition Services will provide lactose free milk or a

substitute such as soy or rice milk to those who require it.

* Rigidly follow physician's orders regarding food restrictions.

* Review food allergies within the food service to avoid allergic

reactions.

* Permit patient to supply his/her own tolerated food products.

Nursing will provide a proper storage area for them.

* Do not serve food or liquids in plastic or Styrofoam. Use only

glass or ceramic dishes and cups which have been well rinsed to remove all

traces of soap and chemical residues. Cellophane or plastic wrap packaging on

room temperature food (i.e., crackers) is typically not a problem, however,

caution must be used if toxic inks are used. Anything noticeably odorous

can be a problem.

* Remove treated i.d. menu paper from the tray and replace tray

liners that may have become wet during transport.

* Plant Operations: Plant Operations will not perform remodeling or

painting within close proximity to MCS patient's room. These activities can

be coordinated with the leadership of patient care area.

* Environmental Services: will perform terminal cleaning.

* Refer to Environmental Services Policy for MCS room cleaning.

* Staff will check with the floor nurse before entering the patients

room.

* Environmental Services will coordinate with the patient's nurse

for cleaning of the patient's room or performing any special cleaning tasks

in the general area (ie., floor waxing or floor wax removal in the halls).

Whenever there is a question of what may affect the health of an MCS

patient, the floor nurse must be consulted.

* Scented products, air fresheners, deodorizers or other additives

should not be placed in any vacuum cleaner bag used anywhere in the health

center. Use only unscented vacuum cleaner bags.

* Do not use any other housekeeping products (garbage bags, paper

towels, cleaning solutions) which contain fragrances or pesticides. These

products should be stored in an area separate from disinfectants, soaps and

other cleaning products. Do not store toilet paper, facial tissues or other

patient items near fragranced or pesticide products.

* SSA's: Will perform daily cleaning of the patient's room by using

the following guidelines.

* SSA's must wear clean gowns and caps when cleaning the room of MCS

patient when patient is in the room.

* Do not use any other housekeeping products (any plastic bags,

paper towels, cleaning solutions which contain fragrances or pesticides). Do

not use any air fresheners or deodorizers in patient's room.

* Dust with a clean cotton cloth moistened with only water.

* Use baking soda or Bon Ami cleanser for tubs, sinks and toilet.

* Remove trash at least twice daily. Do not use plastic liners.

* Do not leave patient trays in the room after meals.

* Pharmacy

Provides pharmaceutical care guidelines to patient, family and health care

team members. The following guidelines are helpful in providing

medications to patients with MCS:

* Have patient bring medications to the hospital that he/she is

currently using. If the physician desires the patient to continue using these

medications, an order shall be written to state such.

* Use glass bottles for IV solutions and any prescription

medications that are to be administered intravenously.

* Do not use any substitutions or generic drugs for medications

ordered without patient or MD approval.

* Be alert for standard ingredients MCS patients typically react to

including but not limited to dyes, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and

flavoring. Consider capsules instead of tablets.

* Monitor medication by listing the patient's specific allergies on

the patient's medication profiles.

* Social Services

Provides psychological support and interventions, assists patient and

family with community resources and discharge planning.

 

* Administration

Provides support and assistance in developing a safe environment for MCS

patient.

 

 

PROCEDURE:

* Admitting will adhere to the following to assist all health care

center personnel in caring for the patient:

* Flag patient's chart clearly and boldly with MCS under the

allergies.

* Flag patient's chart to notify all other health center departments

in advance of treating the patient so proper precautions can be made for

necessary equipment and special supplies.

* Indicate " MCS " on patient's allergy band.

* Emergency Department:

Will assist health care center personnel in diminishing any unnecessary

discomfort and possible risks when MCS patient is brought into the Emergency

Room. The following is initiated:

* Immediately contact patient's physician for special instructions.

* Immediately isolate patient from all other patients and visitors.

* Place patient in an area which is not used to store any medical

supplies or medications.

* Keep a supply of sterile linens and gowns in the emergency room

area.

* Provide the least toxic pharmaceutical supplies and equipment.

* Coordinate with all other health center departments to meet

patients' needs.

* Monitor the general environment the patient is placed in.

* Patient's Room

Staff will implement numerous measures to prevent unnecessary exposure.

Prior to patient's occupancy:

* Contact Environmental Services for terminal cleaning of the room.

* Place new sharps container in the room

* Contact CSS for sterile linen.

 

During Patient's Occupancy:

* Patient should be isolated from other patients and their visitors

at all times to prevent reactions to products these people are wearing or

using.

* Place sign on patient's door stating: " Check at the nurses station

before entering room " .

* Keep patient's door closed at all times and if necessary provide a

clean cloth to seal bottom of door from hall odors.

* Health care center personnel must wash their hands and apply hypo

allergenic, non-latex gloves prior to entering the room of the MCS patient

as these activities can trigger reactions in the patient.

* No live plants or flowers permitted in the patient's room (mold

and pesticides trigger MCS reactions).

* No newspapers or treated paper permitted in patient's room.

(3-part copy papers or chlorinated papers can be highly toxic and may affect

breathing).

 

Approved

 

Trilok C. Sharma, M.D.

President, Medical Staff

Southwest General Health Center

L. Jon Schurmeier,

President

Southwest General Health Center