Preventing needlestick injuries in Aged Care – changing products and behaviors
Helen Finlay11Regis Aged Care, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Regis Aged Care identified a concerning incidence of needlestick injuries occurring across our 63 Homes nationally. Whilst these had been reported and followed up, there was a lack of understanding of the causes of injuries and no strategy implemented to reduce the incidence. With poor post injury follow up, the process was fragmented and confusing, with little support for the person who sustained the injury.
At the commencement of the project, an audit of all needlestick injuries occurring in the pervious 12 month period was conducted, identifying the categories, mechanism and role affected for each injury. The review immediately revealed that insulin pen needles contributed to 75% of all needlestick injuries and 74% of injuries occurred while attaching or removing the needle during administration.
The review identified that the organisation did not use safety engineered retractable insulin pen needles as most diabetic aged care residents received a free supply of needles under the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS).
The initial trail identified workforce behaviour, financial constraints and a poor understanding of the scale of the problem and this resulted in the careful engagement of a supplier to provide the required product with additional training and support. The review at 12 months and 24 months has indicated that the incidence of needlestick injuries has declined sharply across all residential homes.
Once completed, the project demonstrated that whilst there was an increased financial implication, the importance of prioritising safety and injury prevention was paramount for the protection of our workforce.
Biography
Helen Finlay is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years experience working in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Originally trained as a General Nurse and Midwife, she has worked across a number of specialties leading to her current position of National Manager Infection Control for Regis Aged Care. With over 4000 residents in their care, Regis is one of the largest Aged care providers with 63 homes across Australia. Helen’s role is to provide infection control guidance and support to all areas of Regis business, including Residential Care, Home Care and Retirement Living.