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.