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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Angela K. Laramie, MPH and Natalia Firsova, MA. Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 6th floor, Boston, MA 02108, 617-624-5641, angela.laramie@state.ma.us

In evaluating the success of a sharps injury prevention program, focus is typically placed on changes in the number of injuries that occur. While the overall goal is to reduce the number of sharps injuries, conditions such as changes in safety culture and climate, efforts targeted at reporting, and improved access to timely follow-up may increase reporting of injuries, and inadvertently mask the success of a hospital in eliminating hazardous devices and practices. It is important not only to assess the level of under-reporting, but also to examine additional outcomes such as the number of devices with safety features used, and other changes in policies and practices. For the past five years, in compliance with state regulations, 100% of Massachusetts hospitals have submitted data on sharps injuries to MDPH, with over 3,300 injuries reported each year. The total number and distribution of injuries among occupations, departments, devices and procedures has remained largely unchanged from year to year. However, hospitals are utilizing state and local data to make changes within facilities. Innovative prevention steps have included streamlining purchasing practices, requesting custom kits for particular procedures, changing methods for securing central lines, providing portable sharps disposal containers for IV teams, and enhancing post-exposure follow-up. CDC and state funding have promoted development of a comprehensive surveillance and communication system that allows MDPH to provide guidance to hospitals and share the otherwise invisible steps to success. The success of surveillance linked to intervention will be missed if only the summary numbers are considered.

Learning Objectives:

• discuss distribution of injuries across occupations, departments;
• identify outcomes to consider when looking at sharps injury prevention programs;
• describe prevention measures implemented to reduce sharps injuries

Keywords: Health Care Workers,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation