title: A survey of environmental safety issues at 20 medical clinics.
abstract: In the study described in this article, the authors performed safety walk-throughs or inspections for 20 clinics located both inside a major medical center clinic (onsite) and away from the main clinic site (offsite). A checklist was used to evaluate compliance with institutional, local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations. The results obtained at onsite clinics were compared with the results from offsite clinics. Findings suggested no overall difference in the number of yes (desirable) answers. A marginally significant difference, however, was observed between the onsite and offsite clinics with regard to knowledge of infection control and waste/infection control questions. The walk-throughs helped create an improved working relationship between clinic personnel and environmental safety personnel, allowed for correction of safety issues, enabled an informal training opportunity, and increased institutional compliance with guidelines and regulations.
authors.affiliation: Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030-3411, USA. savely@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Susanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Savely
authors.forename: Winifred J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Degani
authors.forename: Armin D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muraca
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D017744:Medical Waste Disposal