HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation and interview the facility failed to ensure soiled equipment, linen, trash and medication was discarded timely. They failed to ensure shipping boxes and clean supplies and equipment were separated. This deficient practice was found in 1 of 1 Emergency Departments.
This deficient practice had the likelihood to cause harm to all patients presenting to the Emergency department (ED).
Findings include:
During an observation of the ED on 04/16/2015 at 10:15 a.m. the following was found:
*Storage Room
Clean patient use equipment and a cart of sterile supplies were stored in a room with 8 shipping boxes.

According to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
"External shipping containers have been exposed to unknown and potentially high microbial contamination. Also, shipping cartons, especially those made of corrugated material; serve as generators of and reservoirs for dust (AAMI ST46-Section 5.2 Receiving Items).

*ED trauma room #2
A linen container was found with linen which was soiled with blood.
A trash container had used gloves and trash in it.
During an interview Staff #2 identified the room as being a clean room. Staff #2 reported the last patient in the room was at 4:42 a.m. (over 5 hours ago).

*ED room #20
On top of an over bed table the following items were found; scissors, sutures, saline, blood stained dressings, and a vial of multidose Lidocaine/Epinephrine (an anesthetic/adrenaline agent). The items were accessible to anyone passing by and presented a hazard.
During an interview Staff #3 reported the equipment was left in the room after the procedure. She was going to discharge the patient from the computer and then go back to the room and clean up the supplies.