Health-Care Staff Training News

National CPR and AED Awareness Week Signed into Law

Congress recently passed a bill designating the first week of June National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Awareness Week, highlighting the importance of learning critical lifesaving skills like CPR, along with the need to increase public access to AEDs.

Rep. John R. Kuhl Jr. (R-NY) says, "This legislation will help Americans save lives at the community level," adding, "If we can train more Americans in performing CPR and using AEDs, we can save more lives."

Read the rest of the article at:
http://www.americanheartassociation.com/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3052527

Make sure every staff member is trained in CPR and AED techniques with products from American Heart Association!

Browse American Heart Association training materials online at:
http://aha.channing-bete.com/

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Focus on Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals

National Patient Safety Goal #3: Improve the Safety of Using Medications

Goal #3 has three components:

3C requires facilities to identify and, at least annually, review a list of look-alike/sound-alike drugs used by the organization, and take action to prevent errors involving the interchange of these drugs.

Implementation expectations:

1. Identify a list of look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) drugs used by the organization. The list must include a minimum of ten look-alike/sound-alike drug combinations selected from the tables of LASA drugs posted on the Joint Commission Web site.
2. Review the list of LASA drugs used by the organization at least annually.
3. Take action to prevent errors involving the interchange of these drugs.

3D requires facilities to label all medications, medication containers (syringes, medicine cups, basins), or other solutions on and off the sterile field.

Implementation expectations:

1. Medications and solutions both on and off the sterile field are labeled even if there is only one medication being used.
2. Labeling occurs when any medication or solution is transferred from the original packaging to another container.
3. Labels include the drug name, strength, amount (if not apparent from the container), expiration date when not used within 24 hours, and expiration time when expiration occurs in less than 24 hours.
4. All labels are verified both verbally and visually by two qualified individuals when the person preparing the medication is not the person administering the medication.
5. No more than one medication or solution is labeled at one time.
6. Any medications or solutions found unlabeled are immediately discarded.
7. All original containers from medications or solutions remain available for reference in the perioperative/procedural area until the conclusion of the procedure.
8. All labeled containers on the sterile field are discarded at the conclusion of the procedure.
9. At shift change or break relief, all medications and solutions both on and off the sterile field and their labels are reviewed by entering and exiting personnel.

3E requires facilities to reduce the likelihood of patient harm associated with the use of anticoagulation therapy.
This component is new in 2008, and has a one-year phase-in period that includes defined expectations for planning, development, and testing at 3, 6, and 9 months, with the expectation of full implementation by January 1, 2009.

The phase-in milestones are:

1. As of April 1, 2008, the organization's leadership has assigned responsibility for oversight and coordination of the development, testing, and implementation of NPSG Requirement 3E.
2. As of July 1, 2008, an implementation work plan is in place that identifies adequate resources, assigned accountabilities, and a time line for full implementation of NPSG Requirement 3E by January 1, 2009.
3. As of October 1, 2008, pilot testing in at least one clinical unit is underway.
4. As of January 1, 2009, the process is fully implemented across the organization.

The implementation expectations that will be in effect as of January 1, 2009, are:

1. The organization implements a defined anticoagulant management program to individualize the care provided to each patient receiving anticoagulant therapy.
2. To reduce compounding and labeling errors, the organization uses ONLY oral unit dose products and pre-mixed infusions, where these products are available.
3. When pharmacy services are provided by the organization, warfarin is dispensed for each patient in accordance with established monitoring procedures.
4. The organization uses approved protocols for the initiation and maintenance of anticoagulation therapy appropriate to the medication used, to the condition being treated, and to the potential for drug interactions.
5. For patients being started on warfarin, a baseline International Normalized Ration (INR) is available, and for all patients receiving warfarin therapy, a current INR is available and is used to monitor and adjust therapy.
6. When dietary services are provided by the organization, the service is notified of all patients receiving warfarin and responds according to its established food/drug interaction program.
7. When heparin is administered intravenously and continuously, the organization uses programmable infusion pumps.
8. The organization has a policy that addresses baseline and ongoing laboratory tests that are required for heparin and low molecular weight heparin therapies.
9. The organization provides education regarding anticoagulation therapy to staff, patients, and families.
10. Patient/family education includes the importance of follow-up monitoring, compliance issues, dietary restrictions, and potential for adverse drug reactions and interactions.
11. The organization evaluates anticoagulation safety practices.

Help train your staff to meet Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goal #3 -- with engaging resources in a variety of formats!

"Preventing Errors For Medication Safety; A Health-Care Staff Handbook" (EM92852)K

This handbook puts the power -- and skill -- to prevent medication errors in staff members' hands! Handbook includes information on medication reconciliation, helping facilities meet Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goal #8 (accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care). It also covers common causes, prevention, and reporting of medication errors, and includes interactive worksheets, practice cases, and a quiz. 32 pages, 8 1/2" x 11"

"Preventing Medication Errors: A Prescription For Patient Safety" (EM87273)
$315.00

This video explains the common types of medication errors that can occur, the five "rights" of administering medications to patients, how a systems approach to error prevention works, and the nurse's role in preventing medication errors. Includes a workbook. Approved for 1.5 hours of CEU credit. 26:56 min. ©2002 Medcom®

To learn more about either of these resources, or to place an online order, go to:
http://go.channing-bete.com/wa/promotion?p=1&code=L310E

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Training and Education Tips

This month: CEUs (continuing education units)

One of the best ways to increase participation in training events -- and the events' value to staff members -- is to offer CEUs. CEUs' primary purpose is to provide a permanent record of the completion of a significant non-credit educational experience. Many health-care workers are required to complete a specified number of CEUs, and will jump at the opportunity to attend a training session that offers them.

Awarding CEUs approved by IACET also provides a quality indicator for your continuing education and training programs, because it indicates that you have been reviewed and approved for complying with internationally recognized standards. IACET CEUs may be awarded by a college, association, company, or any other organization willing and able to meet each of the ANSI/IACET Standards established for the use of the IACET CEU. For more information on how to become an Authorized Provider, visit: http://www.iacet.org/content/authorized-provider.html

You can also submit your own ideas for use in future newsletters! If yours is published, you'll receive a free gift -- plus, it's great publicity for your organization. Mail your training ideas to akowaleck@channing-bete.com with "Staff Training Idea" in the subject line.

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New Product Spotlight

Photographic illustrations throughout!

"Preventing Errors For Medication Safety; A Health-Care Staff Handbook" (EM92852)K

Put the power -- and skill -- to prevent medication errors in staff members' hands! This guide has been revised to include information on medication reconciliation, helping facilities meet Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goal #8 (accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care); it also covers common causes, prevention, and reporting of medication errors. Its interactive worksheets get readers directly involved in identifying high-alert medications, conducting a step-by-step root cause analysis, completing a summary report, and more. Puts staff members' knowledge to the test with practice cases and a quiz.
32 pages, 8 1/2" x 11"

To place a secure online order, go to:
http://go.channing-bete.com/wa/detailForItem?p=1&itemno=EM92852

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I know that NAOSH (North American Occupational Safety and Health) Week is coming up in May. Are there any other health events that I can build staff-training efforts around?

A: Yes! You can find a complete listing of 2008 health observances here: http://www.healthfinder.gov/library/nho/nho.asp

Q: Do you have any health-care-worker training materials available in Spanish?

A: We offer several of our best-selling titles in Spanish:
• "Tuberculosis Precautions For Health-Care Workers" (EM39230)A
• "Bloodborne Pathogens In Health-Care Settings" (EM38448)A
• "Bloodborne Pathogens In The Workplace" (EM39248)A
• "Standard Precautions" (EM39214)A
• "Hazard Communication" (EM13755)A
• "On-The-Job Hearing Conservation" (EM13441)A
• "How To Avoid Slips, Trips And Falls" (EM19422)A
• "The ABCs Of Moving And Lifting Things Safely" (EM43083)A
• NEW! "Bloodborne Pathogen Safety In Health-Care Settings" (EM22793)A

To learn more about any of these resources, or to place an online order, go to: http://go.channing-bete.com/wa/promotion?p=1&code=L310E

Do you have a question for the Channing Bete Company® experts? Send it to kbalboni@channing-bete.com.

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