HospitalInspections.org

Based on facility policy and procedures, facility documents and interview with staff, it was determined the administration failed to require staff to rinse the nebulizers with sterile water and dry thoroughly between uses on the same patient.

Findings include:

Facility policy and procedure "AEROSOL THERAPY" reveals: "...After therapy, disconnect and discard residual medication in nebulizer and store in an appropriate location in the patient room...."

Observation on 8/29/12 at 1445, revealed employee # 19 completed a nebulizer treatment on Patient # 19. Then the nebulizer was covered with a glove and placed on the wall in the patient's room.

Employees #19 confirmed on 8/29/12 at 1450, that when a therapist is finished with a treatment, the nebulizer is not rinsed with water or cleaned with alcohol, but just covered with a glove and placed by the equipment in the patient's room for the next treatment.

Interview with the Director of Respiratory Therapy (employee # 30) conducted on 8/29/12 at 1715 confirmed that the nebulizer is not rinsed with water or cleaned with alcohol, but just covered with a glove and placed by the equipment in the patient's room. The Director (employee # 30) stated that the treatments that are every one hour are never rinsed with water, since they would not dry before the next treatment.