Keep Regulations in Mind When Designing Your Office
In creating a successful dental office design there are so many more things to consider beyond just the color of the walls and what artwork is going to hang in the reception area. Most notably is making sure the design conforms to all governmental regulations such as ADA, OSHA, and HIPAA. In complying with these various codes and regulations, one area that often does not get the consideration its due is compliance with OSHA’s Blood Borne Pathogen regulations. “How does this regulation impact dental office design,” you ask? Good question!
One area that immediately springs to mind is designing the sharps disposal area to have the proper isolation and covers to be in compliance with the regulations. Sharps and biohazard disposal must be separated from other forms of waste disposal and these containers must be closed. When designing the waste receptacles and casework for these items, one must be certain to take the regulations into consideration.
Another area is the handling of uniforms. Any uniform or article of clothing that has come in contact with bodily fluids (blood) must be separated from other garments. Additionally, these garments are not to be worn from the premises. So, having a proper container for doctors and staff to put uniforms for proper cleaning before they leave the dental office is important. Additionally, having a proper place for doctors and staff to change into street clothes prior to leaving the office at lunch or the end of the day is just a matter of courtesy. Who really wants to change in a small bathroom or in the middle of the staff lounge?
Keeping various governmental regulations in mind when planning a dental office design will prevent a whole host of possible liability and fine exposure later.
