Course Syllabus

 

Custodial For Healthcare

Francisco R Saenz, Instructor

CRN 83390 – TICU-9551-521
Pre-Requisite or Co-Requisite TICU-9550
Tuesday/Thursday -- 6:30 TO 9:20 PM

 Online

Course Description

The Custodial Training for Healthcare Workers is an online entry-level course as an Environmental Service Professional.   Students learn the proper cleaning procedures performed in different healthcare settings, i.e., Nursing Home, Dental Office, Outpatient Clinic, Hospital, Medical office building, etc.  Housekeepers, Porters, or EVS workers perform a wide variety of tasks in many different departments within a healthcare facility.  One of the most important responsibilities is to provide a clean and healthy environment for patients, visitors, staff, and the general public.

Emerging infectious diseases such as Covid-19, contagious viral strains, and antibiotic resistant ‘superbugs’ are major threats for healthcare institutions large and small. Knowledge of the most current infection prevention measures, including evidenced-based environmental surface cleaning and disinfection practices is of paramount importance. This course will address the essentials of infection prevention and environmental hygiene, and is specifically designed to help non-clinical workers gain knowledge in epidemiology concepts, effective infection prevention and control methods and recommended cleaning and quality monitoring practices.

The content of the course covers a wide spectrum of topics, including a brief introduction to the microbiology of organisms such as:

• Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
• Coronavirus (Covid-19), and
• Clostridium difficile (C-Diff).

 

Other topics include:

• Transmission and prevention methods
• Employee protection guidelines
• Recommended protocols for patient room cleaning, and
• Environmental monitoring technologies.

As part of the course we will provide online basic training on the proper cleaning procedures for many different departments in a hospital. Students will lean through training videos, the proper cleaning procedure in patient rooms discharge, Surgery, Labor and Delivery, Emergency, Intensive Care Units, Outpatient Exam Room Cleaning, Regular and Regulated Medical Waste collection and transport, Sterilization of Infectious Waste, Cleaning of Common areas and public restrooms, etc. 

A substantial part of the Custodial for Healthcare Worker Course includes the following:

• Foundation and Principles of Environmental Services

• • Regulatory Agencies and Legislation (OSHA, CDC, AORN, APIC, AHE, TJC, and others.)
  • The Role of the Healthcare Environment in the Transmission of Infectious Agents
  • Cleaning and Disinfection
  • Chemicals (Cleaning Solutions and Chemicals)
  • Disinfectants (High, Intermediate, and Low Level Disinfection)
  • Proper PPE, Microfiber Cloth
  • Tools and Equipment 
  • Cleaning Standards.

• Infection Prevention – Introduction (Standardize procedures to implement infection control and prevention protocols)
• Overview of Environmental Services Sanitation Operations

• • All Cleaning Operations done by the department
  • Appropriate Infection control and prevention Policies and Procedures
• Infection Control and Prevention 

1. 1. 1. Hand Washing
      2. Waste Handling
      3. Standard Precautions

• Precautions

1. 1. Standard Precautions
   2. Transmission-Based Precautions
   3. Droplet Precautions
   4. Airborne Precautions
   5. Hand Hygiene
   6. Hand Washing Procedure
   7. Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs – Gels
   8. Isolation Procedures
   9. Personal Protective Equipment (Gloves, Mask, Eye Protection, Face Shield, Gowns, Respirator, etc.)

 

• Special Procedures: Bloodborne Pathogens and Other Potentially Infectious Materials

1. OSHA/Bloodborne Pathogens – Examples:
2. Hepatitis B (HBV)
3. Hepatitis C (HCV)
4. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
5. Cleaning Strategies for Spills of Blood and Body Substances – Procedures and Specific Safety Reminders

• Cleaning Procedures and EVS Department’s Key Roles

• • Exam Treatment Room
  • Emergency Department
  • Acute Care Unit (ICU/CCU) Patient Rooms
  • Nursery / Labor and Delivery
  • Discharge Patient Room Cleaning - Regular and Terminal
  • Surgery Department Cleaning - In-Between-Case, and End-of-Day Terminal.
  • Cleaning of common areas such as waiting rooms, lobbies, public restrooms, etc.

 

We will learn the importance of working in a safe environment and always follow safety procedures when doing Environmental Services work.  Also, we will learn the proper way to use and maintain your cleaning tools, equipment, and materials such as dusters, vacuums, floor machines, burnishers (buffers), mops, buckets and wringers, automatic scrubbers, carpet extractors, and many others while working in a healthcare environment.

The minimum standard for passing the course is satisfactory completion of student performance objectives and accumulate the following percentage during the Semester:

Discussion Assignment.................................. 80% or higher

Writing Assignment........................................ 90% or higher

Quizzes.............................................................. 90% or higher

Mid-Term Exam............................................... 70% or higher

Final Exam........................................................ 70% or higher

Total Activity Online...................................... 45-50 hours.

Attendance

This class will be online due to the pandemic of Covid-19. However, your participation in the course using all the communication tools provided on Canvas will be very important. I will be communicating with you twice a week or more. 

Class Participation

Your class participation is also important because it enhances all student's knowledge. you are encouraged  to be active, attentive, and participate in the class conversations, discussions, and group activities.

Tests and Quizzes 

We will have two major tests. One after 7-8 weeks of instructions (Mid-Term on October 7th), and one Final Exam on December 9th. We will also have several quizzes after every module. There is no make up for missed tests or quizzes unless you are unable to take it for a real emergency. So please make sure you don't miss any of the tests. Again you need to score 70% or higher on the final exam.

Class Rules 

All students have the right to participate in class and be treated with dignity, respect, and professionalism. We follow the Golden Rule: The golden rule is the principle of treating others as one would wish to be treated. In other words: One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself. 

Canvas 

We will communicate via Canvas using email, CityZoon, Pronto, text, etc. I will communicate with the class group, one-on-one, or student-to-student during the class discussions and assignments. Tests and quizzes, homework assignments, and class discussions will be used substantially throughout the semester. 

Job Applications and Interviews 

We will discuss the process to apply online for jobs and talk about your Resume, Job Interviews, and College Central. 

Here is a small video for you to learn about the syllabus. I look forward to meeting you all soon.