Nothing a little duct tape can't fix....

A couple years ago Mike blogged about a simple way to make contact precautions more friendly, involving floor colors that divide the immediate “patient zone” (where gowns and gloves are needed) from a zone in which healthcare workers can communicate with the patient without those barriers. Of course, it costs a bit of money to paint floors or change flooring, so some industrious IPs at Trinity Regional Health System (here in the great Midwest!) decided to take the same approach using red duct tape. They presented their findings at the APIC meeting last week. I’m sure there will be some unintended consequences here (does the duct tape interfere with room disinfection? Will it roll up or buckle and pose a trip-and-fall risk?). Still, I like their willingness to attack this problem with a simple and low-cost solution.