Newsletter



			NEWSLETTER

1314 South King Street, Suite 410 Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 Phone: (808) 597-1564 Fax: (808) 597-1565

June 2009		Company's goal for year 2009

Inside This Issue		As we approached year 2009, placing qualified homecare or healthcare workers to meet the needs of the client is Mastercare's first priority, with ideal candidates who are ready, willing and able to assist with any requirements of the position to be filled. Mastercare's goal is to bring the highest level of quality service to care recipients, clinics, medical organizations and government institutions. Mastercare understands that service is always number one and that providing that right candidate for the client brings the highest degree of wellness, peace of mind and enjoyment for living and is the key to success. To all Mastercare employees, let's make this happen by providing quality service care to our clients. We appreciate all your hard work and dedication to the company.
1 1 2 2 2 3	Mastercare Goal Message from the CEO Employee Requirements Employee Profile
4 Training - Hand Hygiene 5 Announcement s & Leadership Quote
		Mastercare's nationwide.	goal is to expand and have more franchise location

CEO is expecting more workers to participate in our 401K...

Our CEO is still waiting for all qualified employees to participate in our 401 K plan. The company will match a percentage amount of every dollar that the employees contribute.

		Employee Retirement Trust: • Deposits are NOT Taxed to Employee • Funds can be directed by Trustee or Plan Participants • Trust Fund Income is Tax Deferred • Trust is Protected from Employer and Employee Creditors Benefits are distributed upon Retirement; Termination; Death; & Disability. Eligibility: If you are an employee who has completed 1,000 hours of service in a 12 month period and are older than 21 years old are to participate in the plan. Entry Date: Once eligible you may begin contributing on the next enrollment date of January 1^st and July 1^st.
		Your Contributions: You may defer between 1% to 100% of your compensation on a pre-tax basis up to a maximum of $15,500.00. Any employee 50 years of age or older can contribute an additional $5,500.00.

Please ask for an enrollment package or call the office directly for more details. Enrollment starts January 1^st and July 1^st of every year.



PAGE 2		NEWSLETTER

Employee Requires to...

	Have Photo Identification: We would like all Mastercare Employees to have current photo identification. Please find time to visit our office so we can create a photo identification tag for you. Qualification Renewal: All employees who are currently working with Mastercare clients on a regular basis will have the benefits of renewing their CPR/First Aid certification for "FREE". Qualified employees please inform Mastercare one (1) month prior to the expiration date of your CPR/First Aid certification, this way we can schedule the training accordingly. If you desire to renew your CPR/First Aid on your own, Mastercare will reimburse you as soon as you submit the original receipt and the copy of your certification. Please inform us when you update your Blood Borne Pathogens, TB clearance and your license. If you moved to a different address or there are changes in your emergency contact numbers please inform us of these as well. Mastercare would like to keep your employee files updated with the latest information. Timesheets/Timecards: Oahu-must be received in our office no later than 5pm every MONDAY. Kauai-must be received in our office no later than 12noon every MONDAY. Maui-must be received in our office no later than 12noon every MONDAY. The payroll office would like to thank those of you who have been submitting their hours on time and remind those who are late that timesheets are due every Monday by 5 pm. Mastercare will no longer be able to accommodate those who submit late timesheets which means you will have to wait until the next pay period to receive payment for hours submitted past the deadline.


News from Human Resources

Referral AWARDS: (Forms are available in the office) 1. To refer a potential employee, please complete the Employee Referral form and return it, along with a copy of the prospective candidate's resume, application, or both, to the Human Resource department. 2. You are eligible for a referral award only when you refer external candidates. 3. If the candidate you refer is hired, you will receive a referral award of $75.00 (RN); $50.00 (LPN) & $30.00 (C.N.A./PA/HHA) after the new employee has worked 21 working days for Mastercare. 4. Only one referral award can be given per candidate. If a candidate is referred by more than one employee, the first referral received will be the one rewarded if the candidate is hired. Client Referral: Effective December 2008, if you refer a client, you will receive a referral award of $100.00 per client, after the client has been serviced for 21 working days.

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NEWSLETTER			PAGE 3

Training:

HAND HYGIENE - For Hands That Care

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAND HYGIENE As a healthcare worker, your primary concern is your patients' well-being. Yet, statistics show: • Tens of thousands of acute care patients are infected by their caregivers each year. • Two million patients suffer nosocomial, or hospital acquired infections annually, resulting in approximately 88,000 deaths. • Rushed healthcare workers may be taking shortcuts with hand hygiene when necessary facilities are not close at hand. Improper hand hygiene has serious implications for healthcare facilities. When healthcare workers fail to practice good hand hygiene, they spread infections that can lengthen patients' hospital stays. That ultimately results in more patients needing even more care. The importance of hand hygiene is the reason the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised comprehensive guidelines for hand hygiene in healthcare settings. The role of staffing and infections All of us involved in patient care recognize the importance of keeping our hands free of infectious microorganisms. We recognize the obvious potential for hand contamination and the spread of microorganisms when performing direct patient care, such as: • When caring for wounds • During intravascular care • Handling patient secretions or excretions. But healthcare workers' hands can be contaminated during so-called "clean" activities such as: • Lifting a patient • Taking a pulse, blood pressure or temperature. Infectious microorganisms can also be present on normal, intact skin -particularly in moist areas. Since they are shed in the patient environment, your hands can pick them up and carry infection to others. That risk increases if your hands are wet.	CDC RECOMMENDATIONS In response, CDC developed guidelines for good hand hygiene, including a time-saving option for many clinical situations. CDC identifies two effective procedures - hand decontamination and handwashing - with specific recommendations for each. In general, you should determine whether your hands are visibly soiled, or contaminated with proteinaceous material, such as blood, feces or other body fluids. In both cases, handwashing is indicated. Otherwise, hand decontamination is appropriate for most routine clinical situations. (Proteinaceous - Concerning or resembling proteins). Hand Decontamination Decontamination is defined as cleaning your hands with an alcohol-based antiseptic. Alcohol kills germs rapidly and slows bacterial re-growth. In fact, recent CDC studies indicate that alcohol-based skin decontamination is more effective than soap and water for reducing multi-drug-resistant pathogens. Effective decontaminants must contain a concentration of 60 to 95 percent ethanol or isopropanol alcohol. They are available in easy-to-use rinses, gels and foams. • Apply the recommended amount to one of your palms. • Vigorously rub your hands together, spreading the solution thoroughly over both, particularly around nail beds and under jewelry. • Continue until your hands are completely dry. That's important since un-evaporated alcohol can be ignited by static electricity. • Remember to store products away from heat or flame. Some gels can leave a residue after five to ten applications. Washing with soap and water at that point solves the problem.	Handwashing Handwashing is a very simple procedure that effectively prevents the spread of infection - when it's done correctly. Generally, a plain, non-abrasive soap is acceptable, but some situations require antimicrobial soaps. Consult your facility guidelines for specifics. • Thoroughly wet your hands with warm - never hot running water. • Lather up, using the manufacturer-recommended amount of soap. • Vigorously rub your lathered hands together for fifteen seconds, and be sure to include all parts of your hands and your wrists. • Minimize splashes and do not touch the sink. • Rinse thoroughly under a stream of running water to flush away dirt and debris. • Point your hands and fingers downward so dirty water runs into the sink. • Pat hands completely dry with a clean, disposable towel. • Use a dry towel to turn off the faucet to avoid hand recontamination. (One precaution -never top off a partially empty soap container, because that can pose a contamination risk). CDC Hand Hygiene Guidelines Understanding the two methods of hand hygiene is only the first step. You must also know when to use each, and CDC provides specific guidelines based on the type of care you provide, In general, washing with soap and water is required immediately when your hands become visibly soiled or contaminated with proteinaceous substances even in the middle of caring for a patient. Other handwashing situations include: • Before eating • After using the restroom • When exposure to the anthrax bacillus is proven or suspected • Specific instances required by your facility or client's home.

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While these are some of the situations requiring handwashing, hand decontamination is appropriate for most routine clinical situations - unless your hands are visibly dirty.	Handwashing steps: • Wash your hands under warm running water with antimicrobial soap. • Scrub hands and forearms for the length of time	Dermatitis and Hand Hygiene An unfortunate by-product of conscientious hand hygiene may be chronic, irritant contact dermatitis. Surveys indicate healthcare workers wash their hands an average of five to 30 times per shift. Some nurses may wash their hands up to 100 times. Not surprisingly, about 2S percent of nurses report symptoms of hand dermatitis, while as many as 85 percent report a history of hand skin problems. Those statistics have implications for controlling the spread of infection. Studies indicate that staph and gram-negative bacilli more frequently colonize damaged skin, which sheds those microorganisms more readily than healthy skin. Using approved hand lotions after washing decreases skin damage. Clinical trials show that alcohol-based antiseptics create significantly fewer skin problems than washing with soap and water. Skin condition improved dramatically when emollients were added to alcohol-based rubs. The convenience and effectiveness of alcohol-based rubs means better utilization and improved hand hygiene. SUMMARY Inadequate hand hygiene is the leading cause of infectious outbreaks in healthcare facilities. At the same time, scrupulous hand hygiene practices clearly reduce the spread of infectious microorganisms. • Prevent the spread of disease in your workplace - make hand hygiene a top priority. • Learn and follow your employer's policies and procedures. •Conscientiously use hygiene facilities and supplies, • Report cases of dermatitis to your Employee Health Nurse for proper follow-up. Practicing good hand hygiene is your professional responsibility. Know and never deviate from recommended guidelines for handwashing and decontamination. The well-being and safety of everyone in your healthcare facility and clients' home depends on it.
Always decontaminate your hands: • Before any direct contact with patient skin • When you've touched a patient's intact skin - after taking a pulse, temperature or blood pressure, for instance • Before non-surgical insertion of any invasive device, such as urinary catheters • After any contact with patient body fluids or excretions, mucous membranes, non-intact skin or wound dressings - unless your hands become visibly dirty • When you come in contact with inanimate objects, including medical equipment, in a patient's immediate vicinity • When you move from a contaminated-body site to a clean-body site on a patient.	recommended by the soap manufacturer - usually two to six minutes. •Rinse thoroughly. Steps for using an alcohol-based scrub: • Pre-wash your hands and forearms with a non-microbial soap. • Rinse and dry completely. • Apply the surgical scrub as directed, making sure to cover wrists, the backs of your hands and your nail beds. •Allow hands and forearms to dry completely before donning sterile gloves.
And remember - according to the CDC, long fingernails are associated with the spread of infection to patients. Keep your nails shorter than 1/4 inch and never wear artificial nails.	If you elect to use an alcohol-based surgical scrub, it should contain a broad-spectrum, fast-acting, persistent antiseptic to reduce the survival or proliferation of skin
Surgical Hand Antisepsis Antisepsis is the reduction of resident and transient microorganisms on your hands. In the past, strict procedures required ten minutes of pre-operative scrubbing with a brush or sponge and anti-microbial soap. Recent CDC studies, however, indicate that five minutes of scrubbing is equally effective in reducing bacterial levels. When the scrub is immediately followed by an alcohol-based rub, that period drops to just two minutes. And there's no indication that brushes are even necessary when an alcohol-based rub is used. Brushless scrubs have two advantages over typical pre-operative scrubs - they're less damaging to skin, and they avoid bacterial shedding often caused by brushes.	microorganisms. Hand Hygiene and Glove Use Use of sterile or clean gloves doesn't eliminate the need for rigorous hand hygiene. In fact, decontamination is required before and after their use, because gloves create a dark, warm, moist environment -perfect incubators for microorganisms already on your hands. In addition, gloves can tear and allow microorganisms to pass from a patient to you, or vice-versa. To avoid risk of exposure when removing gloves:
Whether you use traditional handwashing or an alcohol-based scrub: • Begin by removing rings. watches and other jewelry. • Clean your fingernails with a nail cleaner under running water to remove debris.	• Grasp one glove and peel it down from top to bottom. • With the exposed hand, repeat the procedure on the other side, tucking the first glove inside the second. • Never allow the outside of the gloves to touch your skin. • Discard immediately and decontaminate your hands.

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FRANCHISING NATIONWIDE : Franchising??? This is one of Mastercare's exciting new projects! YES, we will venture into the business of franchising nationwide. There's something gratifying about helping hard-working, qualified people find employment that makes the best use of their talents and skills. It's also satisfying to help businesses find the capable people that they need.	As a Mastercare franchisee, you can contribute to the economic health of your community. Transform your business into a key part of your community's fabric—the one people come to when they need a job for themselves, their kids, relatives, or friends. Be the one businesses come to for staffing solutions. You'll also be ensuring your own financial future. In today's chaotic business world, human resource	management requirements change almost daily. But, as a Mastercare franchisee, you'll be there with the solutions. When you consider temporary staffing firms' impressive record of success— along with all the tax benefits that come with being in business for yourself—we think you'll agree that Mastercare is one of the most effective and enjoyable strategies for building equity and wealth now and in the future.
WELCOME! GRAND OPENING! We're happy to announce that our new office location - Mastercare of Big Island will open in March 15, 2009. DLMC, Inc. bought the franchise on the Big Island location and they are ready to accept new applicants and new clients. Good Luck!

March 2009 Vol.1 Issue 006