HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation, document review, and staff interview, the Critical Access Hospital's (CAH) administrative staff failed to ensure the Emergency Department (ED) staff inspect the eye wash station for safety and maintenance based on the CAHs policy. Failure to inspect and test eyewash station could result in the water within the system will begin to harbour organisms such as legionella, pseudomonas and acanthamoeba, which, if propelled into the eyes, can cause infections such as conjunctivitis. The CAH administrative staff identified a census of 12 inpatients on entrance.

Findings included:

1. During a tour of the ED on 5/9/22 at 13:22 PM with the ED Supervisor revealed 2 of 2 eye wash stations had not been routinely inspected nor tested to ensure the water is fresh and clean. One eye wash station was located in Trauma room #2 and one in the Decontamination room.

2. Review of the CAH policy "Eye Wash Safety Shower Policy," last approved 3/2022, revealed in part, "Each eye wash/shower station shall be flushed on a weekly basis. This flushing will be long enough to ensure that the water is fresh and clean."

3. During an interview on 5/9/2022 at 1:22 PM with ED Supervisor, revealed these eye wash stations are utilized for patients. The ED Supervisor acknowledged they had not performed a weekly test of the eye wash stations per CAH policy. ED Supervisor did start a routine maintenance with log for each station after discovery.