The recent issues surrounding scope-related infections continue to gather media attention. A recent article by the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette follows the story of how UPMC in Pittsburgh, PA has managed its endoscope reprocessing since a scope-related outbreak in 2012. In the article, UPMC points to its adoption of additional steps added to its reprocessing guidelines since […]
Spotlight on New Best Practices For Scope Reprocessing Read More »
Hospitals and healthcare providers are under increased scrutiny by The Joint Commission (TJC), the FDA, DNV and even Congress to improve the documentation practices around flexible endoscope usage. There are articles are in the media seemingly every day about how a hospital was cited, sued or otherwise put in a negative light around their endoscope
Why Your Automated Endoscope Reprocessor Is Not a Documentation System Read More »
The first trial accusing Olympus Corp. of wrongdoing associated with contaminated duodenoscopes in US hospitals is underway. The case surrounds the death of Richard Bigler, a 57 year-old patient who underwent a scope procedure while battling pancreatic cancer in 2013. It’s alleged that during the procedure, a tainted duodenoscope at Virginia Mason Medical Center passed
First Olympus Superbug Trial Underway And What It Means For All Hospitals Read More »
A recent incident in the Philadelphia area reminds us of the dangers that can result from improperly trained staff in the endoscopy area of a hospital. In the incident, an elderly patient undergoing a surgical procedure had an improperly cleaned endoscope used on them during their procedure. The incident occurred at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, outside
The Risk Of Improperly Trained Staff In The Endoscopy Suite Read More »
In hospitals, endoscopy, perioperative, sterile processing and infection control teams have done a wonderful job of teaming up together to implement solutions for effective flexible endoscope management. This area has been one of the biggest, if not the biggest, area of scrutiny by Joint Commission and other surveying agencies in the past 1.5 years. We
Are You Able To Inspect What You Expect? Read More »
Recently, the Joint Commission (TJC) released its recommendations on how to create a culture of safety within healthcare organizations. As hospitals work to create safer environments for their staff and patients, a culture of safety has become tantamount to reaching their operational goals. A culture of safety can have several positive effects at a healthcare
Joint Commission’s Recommendations on Creating a Culture of Safety Read More »
Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) continue to be a focus area for hospital departments such as infection control and sterile processing departments. Infection control has been a key area of focus by many US hospitals due to the huge financial and reputational risk that exists when an outbreak of a superbug occurs in a hospital. Biomedical
How Biomedical Engineering Can Help In The Fight Against Hospital Acquired Infections Read More »
Hospitals continue to pursue patient safety initiatives as part of the overall shift in US Healthcare from volume to value. After all, hospital acquired infections (HAIs) quickly increase the cost of a procedure and will directly affect your bottom-line. This is on top of any damage to your hospital’s reputation that may occur from an
4 Steps To Increase Patient Safety In Your Hospital Read More »
In recent surveys, The Joint Commission has scrutinized the entire endoscope management process. Everyone understands this is because of the serious patient safety concerns and media attention, as well as the manufacturers of scopes and reprocessors having their own product challenges. So why is The Joint Commission so hung up on how scopes are hung
Why The Joint Commission Is Hung Up On Scopes Read More »
In working with various hospitals across the country, particularly with their scope management practice, we are seeing that all caregivers absolutely have the intention of delivering at the highest level of quality and safety. As organization leaders, it is our job to help our team members meet these important goals. In working with these provider
Is Your Endoscope Management Practice Accountable? Read More »