Mandatory Respiratory Protection Program…
Healthcare Compliance Associates • October 7, 2022
In the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) May 9,2020 update (OHA 2288J) it states:
“If Aerosol-Generating Procedures (AGP) are necessary for any patient, Healthcare Personnel should use gown, gloves, eye protection, and a fit-tested N95 mask or higher respiratory protection.”
This means that any practice that is conducting aerosol generating procedures will need to have a Respiratory Protection Program.
Healthcare Compliance Associates recommends creating a binder for your respiratory program. The respiratory program needs to be accessible to any applicable employee. Maintain the following documentation in the binder:
- Respiratory Program Checklist
- Respiratory Program
- Medical evaluation documentation for each employee required to wear a respirator (keep this in a confidential personnel file)
- Fit Testing documentation for each employee who is required to wear a respirator (pg. 34 in Respiratory Program above)
- Respiratory Training including:
- The respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations – See CDC guidance
- Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance.
- Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.
- Compliance
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