HospitalInspections.org

Based on review of facility documents and interviews with staff (EMP), it was determined that the facility failed to maintain a safe setting for one of ten medical record reviewed.(MR1)

Findings:

Review of "Altoona Regional Health System, Center for Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine. Standard of Practice. Subject: Infection Prevention & Control In The Emergency Department - Part I. Purpose: To minimize and control the spread of infectious disease throughout the Department with proper use of equipment and procedures. ... II. Care of Equipment. A. All disposable equipment such as airways, oxygen masks, and suction catheters are properly discarded. ... B. Non-disposable equipment ... 2. Reusable equipment is cleaned with a hospital approved germicidal between patient use. ... "

1) Review of MR1 revealed " Nursing Procedure: Nurse Notes: ... I entered patient's room to administer amoxicillin and patient's father handed me a used Vacutainer with dried blood on it which was found on the floor. Patient's father states child had put it in their mouth, I asked where it was found, mother reported in the corner near the IV poles. ..."

2) Review of "Emergency Department Staff Meeting" dated October 19, 2011, revealed " ... [Issue] ... The objectives of the meeting were reviewed [Discussion] The meeting was called to review current cleaning processes within the Emergency Department and how these processes could be improved. A recent event was also discussed in which a child was on the floor and found a soiled piece of plastic equipment and placed this in their mouth. ..."

3) A interview was conducted with EMP5, on October 26, 2011, at approximately 10:15 AM " This incident was viewed as a low risk, we probably did not have to do additional test according to the CDC guidelines. There is a lot of construction going on in the Emergency Department so we do weekly ICRA (Infection Control Risk Assessment) rounds."