What is the purpose of notifying a DICO in the context of EMS policies?

• A. To ensure notification to the Designated Infection Control Officer (DICO) of the EMS agency.
• B. To require hospitals to submit annual infection reports to county.
• C. To implement universal patient data sharing with vendors.
• D. To mandate vaccination for all EMS staff.

Answer: (A)

Notifying the Designated Infection Control Officer (DICO) puts infection control issues in the hands of the person responsible for the EMS agency’s infection prevention program. The DICO oversees surveillance, investigation, and coordination of responses to infection-related events, exposures, and outbreaks. This ensures proper reporting, tracking, and implementation of protective measures (like PPE use, isolation reminders, and vaccination guidance), and it helps align actions with public health requirements. The other options describe tasks outside the DICO’s role: hospitals reporting infections to a county, sharing patient data with vendors, or mandating vaccinations—these are separate processes and not the purpose of notifying the DICO.