LAC 48:I.9423. Organization and Policies

A. The hospital shall provide a sanitary environment to avoid sources and transmission of infections and communicable diseases. B. There shall be an effective infection control program for the prevention, control, investigation and reporting of communicable disease and infections. The infection control program shall meet or exceed the latest criteria established by the following: 1. Centers for Disease Control; 2. Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and 3. Title 51, Public Health Sanitary Code. C. A person or persons qualified by education and experience and competent in infection control practices shall be designated as infection control officer(s). This individual(s) shall be responsible for the development and implementation of a hospital-wide infection control program. D. The infection control officer(s) shall develop, with approval of the medical director and governing body, policies and procedures for identifying, reporting, investigating, preventing and controlling infections and communicable diseases of patients and hospital personnel. The infection control officer(s) shall maintain a log of incidents related to infections and communicable diseases. E. Employees with symptoms of illness that have the potential of being communicable (i.e. diarrhea, skin lesions, respiratory symptoms) shall be either evaluated by hospital staff or restricted from patient care activities during the infectious stage.