Isolation Gown Compliance: Education and Risk Assessment

One challenge oral healthcare settings face is the selection of appropriate PPE, particularly isolation gowns, for their purpose of protection and compliance. Most appropriate protective clothing for healthcare workers is based on the recommendations, practices, and regulations outlined by organizations such as OSHA and the CDC. In addition, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) has published a guidance document on the selection of gowns and standards on liquid barrier performance (ANSI/AAMI: PB70).

In order to address PPE selection, clinical settings should conduct continuous risk assessments to review their workflows and exposure levels for the proper determination of the appropriate isolation gown. This session will serve to provide an overview of current research initiatives, regulations, and common practices presently within the oral healthcare settings. It will address the importance of risk assessment and proper PPE selection practices. This session will be primarily beneficial to those who are involved in selecting and wearing PPE, including clinicians and staff in medical settings, compliance officers, DSOs, infection control coordinators and risk managers.