I agree here.  We use “dry and crusted” so there is no question.

 

 

Dana Sparhawk, MD, MPH, FACOEM

Director, Lifespan Employee and Occupational Health Services

Clinical Assistant Professor, Alpert Medical School, Brown University

Grads Dorm, Rhode Island Hospital

593 Eddy Street

Providence, RI  02903

(401) 444-7412

 

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It may mean the same but I have found that if you use clearer language like dry and crusted you get better compliance because people have a more shared understanding of what that means…

 

 

I am revising our policy regarding employees with or exposed to communicable disesase and a question has come up regarding work exclusion for orofacial herpes lesions. Currently, our exclusions are written as such:

1)      Herpes: Restrict from care of high risk patients until lesions heal

2)      Varicella: Restrict from care of high risk patients until all lesions dry and crust

 

To me, heal does not equal dry and crust. The medical director of infection control says they are the same; the medical director of employee health says they are different. And I am stuck in the middle trying to manage a policy that creates controversy and no one agrees on.

 

How are others managing these definitions?

 

I appreciate your help.

 

Be well,

Angeli

 

Angeli Mancuso, RN, COHN-S/CM

Employee Health & Safety Manager

Ph: 805.569.7866/Internal Ext. 57866

Fax: 805.569.8271

a1mancus@sbch.org

www.cottagehealthsystem.org

 

 

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