Partners in ASC Quality
Safe Injection Practices Toolkit
The resources in this toolkit may only be used for internal improvement and education efforts. They may not be used for commercial purposes.
Safe injection practices are crucial to basic levels of patient safety and provider protection. Hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and HIV can be spread from patient to patient when safe injection practices are not used.
The ASC Quality Collaboration has assembled a variety of resources and information that may be used to supplement your current processes to enhance existing injection practices.
The BASIC Safe Injection Practices Toolkit includes three essential resources:
- Safe Injection Practices: What CMS Surveyors Are Looking For
- One Needle, One Syringe, One Time Poster
- Injection Practices Policy and Procedure Template
The EXPANDED Safe Injection Practices contains both essential resources and a broader array of materials, including:
- Assessment Tools
- Implementation Aids
- Training Materials
- Monitoring Tools
- Workplace Reminders
- Guidelines from Leading Authorities
The materials presented here include publicly available resources from the following organizations:
Comments and other feedback may be directed to Executive Director, ASC Quality Collaboration.
Assessment Tools
- Safe Injection Practices: What CMS Surveyors Are Looking For
Perform a self-assessment using the same tool CMS surveyors use when evaluating injection practices in the ASC setting. - Sample Safe Injection Practices Survey (WDHS)
This sample assessment form from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) may be used to observe clinical staff injection practices.
Implementation Aids
- Injection Safety: What Every Healthcare Provider Needs to Know (SIPC)
This brochure from the Safe Injection Practices Coalition (SIPC) summarizes essential aspects of safe injection practices. - Injection Safety: What Every Healthcare Provider Needs to Know (SIPC)
This pocket card from the Safe Injection Practices Coalition (SIPC) succinctly presents the CDC's injection safety guidelines. - Leadership Letter Template
This sample letter from clinical leaders in the ASC may be used to share plans for a safe injection practices awareness initiative with other staff in the center. The template should be adapted to fit the unique circumstances of each center. - Injection Practices Policy and Procedure Template
This sample injection practices policy and procedure is based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. It should be adapted as needed for use in each facility.
Training Materials
- A "Never" Event: Unsafe Injection Practices (CDC)
This presentation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding unsafe injection practices was delivered during a conference call in March 2008. Access the PowerPoint presentation, audio file and transcript below. - Safe Injection Practices Video (SIPC)
This 13 minute training video from the Safe Injection Practices Coalition (SIPC) - a group of healthcare-related organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - reinforces safe injection practices and dispels myths and misperceptions that might lead to infection transmission. - FAQs for Providers (CDC)
These "frequently asked questions" — and answers — from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) focus on injection procedures. - Injection Safety: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know (SIPC)
This brochure from the Safe Injection Practices Coalition (SIPC) summarizes safe injection practices and provides injection safety tips.
Monitoring Tools
- Sample Safe Injection Practices Survey (WDHS)
This sample form from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) may be used to observe the injection practices of clinical staff.
Workplace Reminders
- One and Only Campaign Posters (SIPC)
These posters from the Safe Injection Practices Coalition are designed to reinforce single use of needles and syringes. - Safe Injection Practices Poster (WDHS)
This poster from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) promotes standard precautions for safe injections in healthcare facilities.
Guidelines from Leading Authorities
- Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings (CDC)
This 2007 guideline was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). For information specific to safe injections, please see pages 82 and 83 of the document or refer to the excerpt below. - Safe Injection Practices to Prevent Transmission of Infections to Patients (CDC)
This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) excerpt from its comprehensive guideline for Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings focuses strictly on safe injection practices. - Safe Injection, Infusion and Medication Vial Practices in Healthcare (APIC)
This position paper from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) promoting proper infection prevention and aseptic technique during the handling and preparation of parenteral medications, administration of injections, and procurement and sampling of blood. - Multi-dose Vials (TJC)
This fourth quarter 2010 newsletter from The Joint Commission includes an article discussing discard requirements for multi-dose vials. The relevant article begins on the second page.