Southwest General Health Center (SWGHC)
Middleburg Heights, OH

POLICY 742
Effective Date: July, 2002

POLICY NAME: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (MCS)

Policy

Southwest General Health Center will provide guidelines to ensure optimal care of the patient experiencing Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) which is mutually established with the patient, family/significant other and health care team.

1. INTERPRETATION
   Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), also referred to as environmental illness or chemical injury is a medical condition in which individuals develop symptoms from exposure to very low level of chemicals in the environment. The interdisciplinary team at SWGHC uses a collaborative process with the patient, physician, family/significant other and the health care associates to establish a safe environment, to promote healing and ensure comfort.
2. OBJECTIVES
   An organizational approach to patient management with multiple chemical sensitivities includes:
   • Method to ensure patient is placed in a safe environment.
   • Method to facilitate identification of a MCS patient.
   • Method to verify competency of all associates providing direct and supportive care to the patient with MCS
   • Method to ensure patient's participation in developing their care plan.
   • Method to ensure patient/their families/significant others are educated about the need to communicate about any special care required.
3. OVERSIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY
   A coordinated organizational program to care for MCS patients will be developed by an interdisciplinary team. This committee will have the responsibility for assuring that all provisions of this policy are adhered to throughout the organization. The team will have representatives from:
   • Medical Staff
   • Nursing Services
   • Central Sterile Supply
   • Protection Services
   • Nutritional Services
   • Plant Operations
   • Environmental Services
   • SSA's
   • Pharmacy
   • Social Services
   • Administration
4. SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILTIES OF INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM
   • Medical Staff -Physician: Provides special instructions, treatments, diagnostic tests and medication orders. No treatments/medications should be administered to an MCS patient without prior approval of patient's private physician unless a life threatening emergency exists.
   • Nursing Services Role and responsibilities:
     • Identify the patient with MCS
     • Provide a safe patient care environment.
     • Develop an awareness, sensitivity and respect of patients' physical and emotional needs.
     • Develop a plan of care on daily basis with minimum of one staff member per each shift to attend medical needs of the patient.
     • Comply with the following when caring for the MCS patient:
       • be perfume and scent free (ie., no hair spray, no mousse gels, lotions, cigarette/smoking smells).
       • Do not use aerosol products (ie hair spray, deodorants). Non-scented, potassium salts, pump deodorant is acceptable. Baking soda (dry).
       • Do not wear new clothing which has not been laundered.
       • Do not wear clothing which has been freshly dry-cleaned.
       • Use only latex free gloves
       • Wash hands and apply gloves before entering the patient's room.
       • Be alert for any environmental triggers when following normal hospital procedures.
   • Central Sterile: Provides and ensures the unit with
     • Latex free products
     • Adequate supply of sterile linens
     • Adequate supply of other medical core items (ie. Sponges, dressings, securing devices).
     • Patient can provide their own linens if other methods are not satisfactory.
   • Protection Services: Provides assistance from the vehicle to hospital in a safe manner. (Turn vehicle engines off)
   • Nutritional Services: Recognizes different food sensitivities and follows certain guidelines to accommodate and meet individualized needs of the MCS patient.

Special provisions may include but will not necessarily be limited to the following:

• No processed foods of any kind including instant oatmeal, instant potatoes, and other prepackaged mixes, ie., gravies, sauces, and flavor packets as they may contain many additives.
• Use no dyes, preservatives, sulfites, artificial flavoring or MSG.
• Use no aerosol cooking sprays.
• Use no artificial sweeteners.
• Distilled water in glass containers to be provided by Nutrition Services, or patient may supply his/her own tolerated water for drinking.
• Serve beverages which have not been processed with chemicals.
• Nutrition Services will provide lactose free milk or a substitute such as soy or rice milk to those who require it.
• Rigidly follow physician's orders regarding food restrictions.
• Review food allergies within the food service to avoid allergic reactions.
• Permit patient to supply his/her own tolerated food products. Nursing will provide a proper storage area for them.
• Do not serve food or liquids in plastic or Styrofoam. Use only glass or ceramic dishes and cups which have been well rinsed to remove all traces of soap and chemical residues. Cellophane or plastic wrap packaging on room temperature food (i.e., crackers) is typically not a problem, however, caution must be used if toxic inks are used. Anything noticeably odorous can be a problem.
• Remove treated i.d. menu paper from the tray and replace tray liners that may have become wet during transport.
• Plant Operations: Plant Operations will not perform remodeling or painting within close proximity to MCS patient's room. These activities can be coordinated with the leadership of patient care area.
• Environmental Services: will perform terminal cleaning.
  • Refer to Environmental Services Policy for MCS room cleaning.
  • Staff will check with the floor nurse before entering the patients room.
  • Environmental Services will coordinate with the patient's nurse for cleaning of the patient's room or performing any special cleaning tasks in the general area (ie., floor waxing or floor wax removal in the halls). Whenever there is a question of what may affect the health of an MCS patient, the floor nurse must be consulted.
  • Scented products, air fresheners, deodorizers or other additives should not be placed in any vacuum cleaner bag used anywhere in the health center. Use only unscented vacuum cleaner bags.
  • Do not use any other housekeeping products (garbage bags, paper towels, cleaning solutions) which contain fragrances or pesticides. These products should be stored in an area separate from disinfectants, soaps and other cleaning products. Do not store toilet paper, facial tissues or other patient items near fragranced or pesticide products.
• SSA's: Will perform daily cleaning of the patient's room by using the following guidelines.
  • SSA's must wear clean gowns and caps when cleaning the room of MCS patient when patient is in the room.
  • Do not use any other housekeeping products (any plastic bags, paper towels, cleaning solutions which contain fragrances or pesticides). Do not use any air fresheners or deodorizers in patient's room.
  • Dust with a clean cotton cloth moistened with only water.
  • Use baking soda or Bon Ami cleanser for tubs, sinks and toilet.
  • Remove trash at least twice daily. Do not use plastic liners.
  • Do not leave patient trays in the room after meals.
• Pharmacy
  Provides pharmaceutical care guidelines to patient, family and health care team members. The following guidelines are helpful in providing medications to patients with MCS:
  • Have patient bring medications to the hospital that he/she is currently using. If the physician desires the patient to continue using these medications, an order shall be written to state such.
  • Use glass bottles for IV solutions and any prescription medications that are to be administered intravenously.
  • Do not use any substitutions or generic drugs for medications ordered without patient or MD approval.
  • Be alert for standard ingredients MCS patients typically react to including but not limited to dyes, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and flavoring. Consider capsules instead of tablets.
  • Monitor medication by listing the patient's specific allergies on the patient's medication profiles.
• Social Services
  Provides psychological support and interventions, assists patient and family with community resources and discharge planning.
• Administration
  Provides support and assistance in developing a safe environment for MCS patient.