Atlanta, GA [February 1, 2012] – The Safe Injection Practices Coalition (SIPC) is pleased to announce that the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services has joined the SIPC to help disseminate the messages and materials of the One & Only Campaign. The Campaign’s goal is to raise awareness among patients and healthcare providers about safe injection practices.
Since 1999, more than 125,000 patients in the United States have been notified of potential exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV due to lapses in basic infection control practices. Many of these lapses involved healthcare providers reusing syringes, resulting in contamination of medication vials or containers which were used then on subsequent patients. By practicing the Campaign's slogan, One Needle, One Syringe, and Only One Time for each and every injection, the risk of contracting hepatitis and other infections through medical injection will be greatly reduced.
“North Carolina is very excited to partner with the Safe Injection Practices Coalition on this important campaign,” said Dr. Zack Moore, Medical Epidemiologist with the NC Department of Health & Human Services. “Unfortunately, we know that patients right here in North Carolina have been potentially exposed to HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C because of unsafe injection practices. We’ve already taken several steps to improve patient safety in our state, and this partnership is a great way to build on those efforts.”
North Carolina will join the New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services and the New York State Department of Health in disseminating key messages for the One & Only Campaign. This is the third year of state health department involvement in the Campaign. Milestones from the past year include the launch of a continuing medical education (CME) offering on safe injection practices, revamp of the Campaign's website, and the launch of social media initiatives.
Founded in June 2008, the SIPC is comprised of patient advocacy organizations, foundations, provider associations, industry partners and the CDC. The SIPC focuses its efforts on advancing and promoting safe injection practices by informing and educating healthcare professionals and the public, especially in outpatient settings. Issues of particular concern include the reuse of syringes and misuse of single-use and multi-dose vials.
SIPC partners include the following organizations: Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc (APIC), BD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CDC Foundation, Covidien, HONOReform Foundation, Hospira, Institute for Safe Medication Practices, MEDRAD, National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO), Nebraska Medical Association, Nevada State Medical Association (NSMA), Premier healthcare alliance, and U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Safe Use Initiative (advisor).
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