MAO Manual

M. Tuberculosis Medical transportation, such as that provided in a Mobility Assistance Vehicle, may expose the MAVO to Tuberculosis bacteria. A patient in the MAV who is coughing agressively or sneezing may aerosolize some bacteria in his or her respiratory moisture. Repeated exposure to this type of moisture could create M. Tuberculosis infection in the MAVO – especially after multiple long transports. Although Tuberculosis infection is possible, it generally requires prolonged exposure of the course of multiple days in a confined environment to create an infection. The incident of Tuberculosis transmission in the medical transportation industry is very small. Some good-sense precautions will minimize the chance of Tuberculosis transmission: - Be suspicious of patients with productive coughs - If weather permits, keep windows somewhat open to ventilate the interior of the vehicle during the transport of a suspected Tuberculosis patient - Wear an N95 or HEPA respirator when transporting a suspected TB patient

getting medical appointments and other procedures. Some MAVO’s however, may struggle with the psychological impact of dealing with many chronically ill or injured persons. Some cases, such as the death of a long-term patient or transporting a sickly child may be particularly difficult for an MAVO. An MAVO experiencing mental stress may exhibit some of these symptoms: - Trouble performing routine activities such as eating, sleeping, and engaging in recreation activities - Loss of interest in work, friends, or family - Use of alcohol and/or drugs MAVO’s experiencing these symptoms should speak to their managers about their difficulties. Some strategies for managing stress include: - Taking some time off - being temporarily assigned to an alternate duty - Discussing the stress with peers The manager may be able to offer helpful advice or professional help. Bloodborne Pathogens In 1991, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) created and adopted 29 CFR 1910.1030, the Bloodborne Pathogens standard. This piece of worker protection law required that employers whose employees may come into contact with blood or some Other Potential Infectious Material (OPIM) set up some systems to protect their employees from infection. While the industries most affected by the standard are healthcare and public safety, an MAVO is also affected by the standard since they may have to render first aid or CPR to a patient who has an emergency during the transport. As a result, the MAVO’s employer must set up some systems to protect his operators from harm. The major illnesses that require discussion in a bloodborne pathogens program include

Medical Respirator

Psychological Harm Providing medical transportation can be a rewarding career. Many MAVO’s enjoy assisting individuals who need assistance help