Effective management of ligature risks

Pretty much since 2017, I have been wishing, hoping, etc. for the ligature resistance pendulum to find itself in something close to a middle ground. The pendulum will always sway a bit, but I’m thinking that the swings will be somewhat less acute than when we started this journey and move from the identification of environmental “deficiencies” relating to ligature and other harm risks to the effective clinical management of at-risk patients in whatever environments they might find themselves.

When operating on a patient, minimizing infection risks and eliminating harmful distractions are crucial to their safety—which is why excessive door openings can be a real problem, says Brad Truax, MD, a board-certified physician in neurology and internal medicine with over 20 years of experience in medical administration and patient safety. There are several ways that people have approached the issue, Truax says. By taking steps such as logging door openings, having all necessary equipment in the OR, and setting up a communication system, and signaling when surgery is in progress, surgical teams can better protect patients.

The clinical director of The Joint Commission’s (TJC) Standards Interpretation Group is warning hospitals that one of the greatest risks for noncompliance under revisions to U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) <797> requirements for compounding sterile medication will be under drugs in the category 3 level.

If you’ve asked for a time-limited waiver to address a Life Safety Code (LSC) deficiency, be aware that CMS is unlikely to approve extensions, warned Herman McKenzie, MBA, CHS, director of The Joint Commission (TJC) Standards Interpretation Group’s Physical Environment Department. This is especially true for hospitals that use an accreditor to be deemed compliant with Medicare Conditions of Participation, said McKenzie during TJC’s Executive Briefing annual conference in September.

Exposed skin and lab work simply don’t mix, which is why open-toed shoes are verboten in the laboratory, says Dan Scungio, MT(ASCP), SLS, a laboratory safety officer for multihospital system Sentara Healthcare in Virginia. However, that isn’t the only consideration when picking out a good pair of lab shoes. Things like grip, absorption, and coverage also play a role in keeping your feet safe.