Managing Endoscopes

New Research On Endoscope Disinfection Reveals Importance of Forced Air Drying

October 20, 2017 / Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

A new study into the cleanliness of endoscopes following high level disinfection has revealed some important findings.  The research team, headed by Dr. Adarsh Thaker at UCLA, used specialized digital video cameras to perform visual inspection on 59 duodenoscopes, gastroscopes, echoendoscopes and colonoscopes after manual cleaning and high level disinfection. Each visual inspection included a […]

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Establishing a Successful Scope Management Strategy

September 21, 2018 / Hospital Management, Infection Control, Joint Commission, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

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 in the media seemingly every day about how an endoscope manufacturer or a hospital was cited, sued or otherwise put in a negative light

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FDA Clears Pentax Duodenoscope With Disposable Cap To Advance Safety

October 3, 2017 / Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently cleared the first duodenoscope with a disposable distal cap.  It is believed that the new feature will improve access for cleaning and reprocessing of duodenoscopes, leading to improved patient safety.  The Pentax model ED34-i10T duodenoscope is being released following a field correction issued earlier in 2017

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Are Public Inspection Reports Coming?

October 9, 2017 / Hospital Management, Infection Control, Joint Commission, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

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

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Insights From a Scope Pro – Jhmeid Billingslea

September 6, 2017 / Managing Endoscopes, Operating Rooms, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

This is part of 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 Jhmeid Billingslea, the Director

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Insights From a Scope Pro – Andy Young

June 1, 2018 / Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

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

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What the Infection Risk at the Buffalo VA Can Teach Us

August 30, 2017 / Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

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 Update on Threat of Improperly Sterilized or High-Level Disinfected Equipment

October 9, 2017 / Infection Control, Joint Commission, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

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

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How Safe Are Your Duodenoscopes?

August 30, 2017 / Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

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

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How Much Have Endoscope Cleaning Practices Evolved In Recent Years?

August 30, 2017 / Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

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

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