title: Telehealth infection control: a movement toward best practice.
abstract: As healthcare transitions to the home environment, there is an increasing need to prevent and control infections traced to telehealth equipment. Background information about infection control is presented, and the need for a survey of agency cleaning policies is described. Findings from 31 agencies using telehealth equipment are described followed by suggested Best Practice Guidelines for the cleaning of telehealth equipment.
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Care Management for Baptist Home Health Network and 2020 Health Solutions, USA.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suter
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yueng
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: W Newton
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Suter
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004203:Disinfection / Q000458:organization & administration; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050456:Fomites / Q000382:microbiology; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D016357:Infection Control Practitioners; D016134:Organizational Policy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014481:United States