Discussion: View Thread

  • 1.  Meal service assistants entering isolation rooms

    Posted 09-12-2024 16:21

    Hello all -

    I am very curious to know how other inpatient facilities manage the delivery & pick-up of patient meal trays to isolation rooms.  Do meal service assistants perform this? If so, do they don the fully required PPE or don gloves & walk in & pick -up the tray and walk out, with the assumption that it is a minimal contact, low risk activity?  Does your nursing staff assume this role?  Is there some combination of duties or other model?  I have seen several different models used in the past and wondering what the current practice is.

    TIA for your help!



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    Joan Mitchell, RN, MPH, CIC, Oregon Health and Science University
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  • 2.  RE: Meal service assistants entering isolation rooms

    Posted 09-13-2024 15:36

    At Kaiser we have food services deliver to most isolation patients (Contact, Contact Plus, and Droplet Precautions), with expectation that they are wearing the full PPE. For patients in Airborne Precautions or Enhanced Respiratory/Contact (COVID19), the food service staff leave the tray for nursing to deliver. Interested to hear what others do, this has been a hot topic over the last few years!




  • 3.  RE: Meal service assistants entering isolation rooms

    Posted 09-14-2024 14:47

    The process at Kaiser, Downey, CA, is the same as Jessica's.



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    Edina Fredell, MPH, CIC, MT(ASCP)
    CommonSpirit Health
    Centralized Surveillance Infection Preventionist (CA Region)
    Coos Bay, OR
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    Original Message