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We Take Pride in Safety: A Comprehensive Four-Part Laboratory Safety
Program
Leonard K. Dunikoski, PhD and Donna M. Melee
Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy NJ
The comprehensive laboratory safety program at our two-site medical center
(Perth Amboy: 337 beds, Old Bridge: 119 beds) consists of four elements that
easily could be replicated at other institutions:
- Selecting equipment and supplies to maximize safety, including phlebotomy
devices (such as the VanishPoint device from Retractable Technologies), patient
identification devices (such as the BloodLoc device from Novatek Medical) and
LIS-interfaced instrumentation featuring automation and closed-tube sampling
(such as the Power Processor and LX20 Pro chemistry analyzer from Beckman
Coulter).
- Annual mandatory staff education programs emphasizing written policies
for patient safety (patient identification, standard precautions, emergency
evacuation, preventing blood culture contamination, etc.) and staff safety
(chemical hygiene plan, bloodborne pathogens, radiation safety, TB,
fire/electrical/waste, etc.).
- Formal, documented periodic (6-month) safety inspections by both
laboratory and non-departmental personnel using written checklists that address
both potential hazards as well as the staffs ability to verbalize knowledge.
- Evaluating monthly safety documentation (accidents, incident reports,
turnaround times, patient complaints, overtime, staff turnover, etc.) as well
as staff input and feedback from monthly meetings.
Staff will accept such a culture of safety only when senior management
shows that safety is a clear priority.
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