Patient Safety

FDA Clears Pentax Duodenoscope With Disposable Cap To Advance Safety

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?

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

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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Minimizing Patient Risk Through Automated Inventory Management

Cath Lab, Operating Rooms, Operational Efficiency, Patient Safety, Radiology, Supply Chain, The Business of Surgery /

For those directly involved with patient care, supply management for patient procedures or risk assessment, how does your team effectively manage the inventory of implantable items that are about to expire? Or more importantly, the items that are already expired? When we look at how the procedure areas in hospitals – ORs, Interventional Radiology, Cath

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Insights From a Scope Pro – Andy Young

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

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

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?

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?

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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The Olympus Trial Verdict And What It Means For All Hospitals

Hospital Management, Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

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

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