Vital sign zero
“Vital sign zero” is a new concept that can help prevent and control infectious diseases. It refers to the collection of certain relevant information about a patient by medical staff prior to the recording of the patient’s vital signs. Specifically, medical workers should first assess the risk of infectious disease, determine whether the patient may suffer from an infectious disease, and assess the potential harm of the infectious disease. They should then take appropriate personal protective measures to prevent their own infection. Patients with infectious diseases should be isolated in a timely manner according to the required prevention and control measures (Kristi et al., 2016).
The application of “vital sign zero” can help medical staff prevent and control the dissemination of infectious diseases. In particular it can help them to identify patients with the greatest potential for having an infectious disease, to use personal protective equipment in an appropriate and timely manner, and to protect their own health and safety, one of the most significant considerations when encountering a new infectious disease or a possibly infectious disease (Koenig, 2015). The procedures recommended by the “vital sign zero” concept should become routine for all medical worker. This concept emphasizes that when medical workers treat patients, they must pay attention to their own safety and health, and should not blindly try to rescue patients while ignoring their own safety.