JCAHO to visit Point of Care Dept.

Can we really be lucky enough to get two visits from The Joint Commission in a year? Yes, we are that lucky. Here's what you can do to prepare for their survey:

• Make sure you are up-to-date with your competency.
• Check testing materials (like control solutions, reagents, strips, etc.) for dates. All opened materials should have a "date opened" written on it, as well as an expiration date. Discard anything that is expired or opened without a date.
  
• Make sure all testing supplies are in the appropriate storage locations.
• Know where you can access Point of Care testing policies and procedures. Most of them are on Meditech. Some testing devices will have a small notebook stored with them.
  

If you have any questions, please contact Pam P. @ ext. 2475.

Post-op PPM changes

There is a change to the post-op pacemaker order sets. An antibiotic is to be administered immediately post-op when the patient leaves the cath lab. Where ever the patient goes after being cathed (CVC, 3W, ICU, etc.), the receiving nurse must give the antibiotic upon arrival and q 8 hrs. Antibiotics are not to be given beyond 24 hrs after surgery end-time. Pharmacy will time the administration of antibiotic on the MAR based on the surgery end-time. Questions can be directed to Tom O. @ ext. 5296.