AFFILIATE ORIENTATION MANUAL Health care workers who need to wear splints/ orthopedic devices on the hands or wrists are allowed to participate in direct patient care if the device can be removed for proper hand hygiene. • The health care worker should also be able to don appropriate gloves (sterile/non-sterile) with the splint/orthopedic device, when appropriate. • Health care workers who are unable to remove their splints/orthopedic device for proper hand hygiene and glove use must not participate in direct patient care. • Wearing gloves with a splint/orthopedic device is not a substitute for proper hand hygiene. • Reassignment to non-patient care activities is at the discretion of the department director in the area you are working in. SPLINTS and OTHER ORTHOPEDIC SUPPORT DEVICES If an employee or affiliate observes someone on Cone Health premises, not under the care of Cone Health at that time, that appears to have some emotional, alcohol or substance abuse issue, the employee or affiliate should contact Security at that location and try to stay with that individual until Security arrives. EMOTIONAL ILLNESS, ALCOHOLISM or SUBSTANCE ABUSE All patients have the right to make decisions concerning how they want to be cared for in case they are unable to make those decisions (Advance Directives), and if they want, have help in writing down those decisions. Patients have the right to choose someone to make treatment decisions for them in the case that they cannot make decisions themselves. Patients have the right to have advance directives, which are in the chart, discussed with them and/or the individual they have chosen to make decisions for them. Patients have the right to request receipt of care that is different from what is stated in the Advance Directive. ADVANCE DIRECTIVES Affiliates who have weeping dermatitis/lesions on the hands must be restricted from direct patient care until all lesions are healed. To minimize possible irritant contact dermatitis: • Use system approved lotion. • Avoid the use of very hot water should be avoided as it increases the likelihood of skin damage. • Pat skin dry rather than rub it to avoid cracking. DERMATITIS/LESIONS on the Hands 26