Following the Wall Street Journal article that questioned the validity of The Joint Commission’s accreditation practices, the government has stepped up inquiries into the hospital accreditation process. The Joint Commission, as the largest accreditation agency, is now under increased scrutiny and hospitals may be exposed as a result. Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa) has sent a […]
Are Public Inspection Reports Coming? Read More »
This is the first in a series of interviews being held with professionals who have deep expertise in the requirements and protocols around endoscope reprocessing in hospitals. The goal is to learn about and educate on existing and emerging best practices in endoscope reprocessing. I had a chance to sit down with Andy Young, the
Insights From a Scope Pro – Andy Young Read More »
The Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Buffalo, NY is notifying over 500 patients that a recent endoscope procedure may have exposed them to a life-threatening illness. The news was reported by The Buffalo News last week, and continues the trend of endoscope-related issues across the US. The Buffalo VA Medical Center was cited in
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The Joint Commission (TJC) recently released a Quick Safety update titled “Improperly Sterilized or HLD Equipment – A Growing Problem”. The release was issued in response to what TJC perceives as a growing threat to patient safety. In their analysis, they state that in 2016, 74% of immediate threat to life (ITL) declarations issued by
Fujifilm Medical Systems USA recently recalled its duodenoscopes, joining the prior recall of Olympus duodenoscopes and a field correction issued to Pentax duodenoscopes. With the ever-changing hardware and cleaning instructions, many endoscopy and sterile processing professionals may find themselves wondering, “Exactly how safe are the duodenoscopes that I’m managing?” It’s a tricky question, and one
How Safe Are Your Duodenoscopes? Read More »
The short answer is – reprocessing processes are evolving, but not quickly enough. This is according to a series of recent studies Ofstead & Associates, based in Minnesota. The two studies, conducted at UPMC in Pittsburgh and another healthcare facility in the Midwest, both showed that risks of infections spread by endoscopes still exist even
How Much Have Endoscope Cleaning Practices Evolved In Recent Years? Read More »
The first trial accusing Olympus Corp. of wrongdoing associated with contaminated duodenoscopes in US hospitals has recently concluded. The jury ultimately decided that the Olympus duodenoscope’s design was not to blame for the death of a patient – though its lack of proper warning was determined to be partially responsible, as well as the actions
The Olympus Trial Verdict And What It Means For All Hospitals Read More »
On July 21, 2017, Fujifilm Medical Systems USA issued an Urgent Medical Device Correction and Removal notification to inform customers of a recall of its ED-530XT duodenoscopes. This voluntary recall includes the replacement of the ED-530XT forceps elevator mechanism including the O-ring seal, replacement of the distal end cap, and the provision of new Operation
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Kaiser Permanente’s Largo Medical Center in Maryland has issued a notice to 23 patients that they should undergo testing following the use of an improperly disinfected flexible endoscope in their cases. This recall, coupled with the recent issue at an armed forces facility in Qatar, continues to remind us of the risks that improperly reprocessed
Patient Recall in Maryland Continues Recent Spat of Endoscope-Related Issues Read More »
The recent revelation of a potential endoscope-related outbreak at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar reminds us once again of the risks that improperly reprocessed scopes represent to our patients. This unfortunate episode potentially exposed 135 airmen to such diseases as HIV, hepatitis B and C and other potentially fatal bugs. The most disturbing
What A Recent Outbreak in a US Military Hospital Can Teach Us Read More »