Preventing the spread of a virus starts with proactive tactics such as getting vaccinated, hand washing and disinfecting surfaces, among a few others. 

<img src="/sites/cch/image/cch-hank-drummond-headshot.jpg" align="right"
style="margin: 8px 8px 8px 8px;"" />
<p>
  While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health
  Organization (WHO) and other global entities are working together to
  understand and control the
  <a href="https://www.crosscountryhealthcare.com/blogs/2019-novel-coronavirus"
    >novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)</a
  >, it is particularly important for healthcare workers to follow critical
  guidelines to help contain the spread of any virus. &ldquo;Healthcare workers
  are at risk for exposure to serious, and sometimes deadly, diseases,&rdquo;
  says Hank Drummond, Chief Clinical Officer at Cross Country Healthcare.
  &ldquo;If you work directly with patients or handle material that could spread
  infection, we encourage you to follow several strategies to help protect
  yourself and others.&rdquo;
</p>

<h2><strong>Vaccines</strong></h2>

<p>
  Be sure to get appropriate vaccines to reduce the chance that you will get or
  spread vaccine-preventable diseases. Make sure you are up to date with
  recommended vaccines. For a list of Centers for Disease Control recommended
  vaccines, click
  <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/hcw.html">here</a>.
</p>

<h2><strong>Hand Washing</strong><strong> </strong></h2>

<p>
  One of the most important ways to reduce the spread of infections is regularly
  washing the hands with soap and water. Wash your hands after coughing,
  sneezing or using tissues. See the OSH
  <a href="http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/washing_hands.html"
    >Hand Washing &ndash; Reducing the Risk of Common Infections</a
  >
  for more details.
</p>

<h2><strong>Surface Disinfection </strong></h2>

<p>
  An important part of prevention is surface disinfection to help remove viruses
  from surfaces and prevent their spread in the facility and externally into the
  community. In the U.S., the outbreak situation has triggered the Environmental
  Protection Agency&rsquo;s Emerging Pathogen Policy. This policy determines
  whether disinfectants that meet certain efficacy criteria can be considered
  effective against the 2019-nCoV. Contact your disinfection product
  manufacturer for the latest information on whether their products can be
  considered to be effective against 2019-nCoV.
</p>

<h2><strong>Prepare your Facility </strong></h2>

<p>
  There are several effective practices that facility managers and healthcare
  leaders can ensure are in place to help contain the spread of viruses. These
  include:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>Have an infection control plan.</li>
  <li>Provide clean hand washing facilities.</li>
  <li>
    Offer alcohol-based hand sanitizers when regular facilities are not
    available.
  </li>
  <li>Provide boxes of tissues and encourage their use.</li>
  <li>Remind staff to not share cups, glasses, dishes and cutlery.</li>
  <li>Remove magazines and papers from waiting areas or common rooms.</li>
  <li>Make sure ventilation systems are working properly.</li>
</ul>

<h2><strong>Follow the Basics </strong></h2>

<p>
  All healthcare workers should also follow common practices to slow the spread
  of infections, including:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>Stay home if you are sick.</li>
  <li>
    Use a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand. Turn away
    from other people.
  </li>
  <li>Use single-use tissues. Dispose of the tissue immediately.</li>
  <li>Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth.</li>
</ul>

<h2><strong>Proactive Steps for 2019-nCoV Containment </strong></h2>

<p>
  Healthcare providers are urged to take proactive steps to prevent the spread
  of 2019-nCoV, including obtaining a travel history for patients presenting
  with fever and/or symptoms of lower respiratory illness (i.e. cough,
  difficulty breathing). For patients under investigation, providers should:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>Ask patients to wear a surgical mask as soon as they are identified.</li>
  <li>
    Conduct their evaluation in a private room with the door closed, ideally an
    airborne infection isolation room, if available.
  </li>
  <li>
    Use standard precautions, contact precautions, and airborne precautions and
    use eye protection (e.g., goggles or a face shield) for all personnel
    entering the room.
  </li>
  <li>
    Implement basic infection control measures including hand hygiene,
    respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette (e.g., masking), and environmental
    disinfection.
  </li>
</ul>

<p>
  &nbsp;&ldquo;Cross Country Healthcare partners with our clients to ensure safe
  work environments for both the patients we serve and our staff. We will remain
  vigilante and communicate any updates on the current 2019-nCoV situation to
  all of our healthcare workers,&rdquo; Mr. Drummond added.
</p>

<p>
  If you have any questions or concerns, you are encouraged to call the Cross
  Country Healthcare Clinical Hotline at 800-998-5058. For that latest
  information, read our latest
  <a href="https://www.crosscountryhealthcare.com/blogs/2019-novel-coronavirus"
    >blog on 2019-nCoV</a
  >.
</p>


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