We had a similar problem in the United Kingdom – although patient weights were recorded in kilograms, the weighing devices themselves were often dual-scale. Until a few years ago, certain hospitals had cut corners by using domestic quality scales. (See http://www.lacors.gov.uk/lacors/PressReleaseDetails.aspx?id=20486 ). The British Department of Health now requires all medical practitioners use properly calibrated metric-only scales. (See http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/efa-2010-001a.pdf ).
Other useful sources of information are: OIML (International Organisation for Legal Metrology) Recommendation R076: http://www.oiml.org/en/files/pdf_r/r076-1-e06.pdf UK Weighing Federation recommendations: http://www.westcoweigh.co.uk/PDFs/medical-scales.pdf . This recommendation is compatible with the OIML recommendation (pg 27). Both the above documents cite metric units only. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: 02 June 2014 04:13 To: U.S. Metric Association Cc: USMA Subject: [USMA:53903] Re: Associations Identify Using Metric Weights as Key to Avoiding Medication Errors with Pediatric Patients I note that the press release from the ENA is almost 2 years old. I wonder how things have progressed in hospitals since then. Can Julie provide as an "on the ground" update? Thanks, Ezra _____ From: [email protected] To: "USMA" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 1, 2014 8:08:56 PM Subject: [USMA:53901] Re: Associations Identify Using Metric Weights as Key to Avoiding Medication Errors with Pediatric Patients Bad link. Sorry. The extra dot near the end was the only flaw. http://www.ena.org/about/media/PressReleases/Pages/Associations.aspx ----- Message from [email protected] --------- Date: Sun, 01 Jun 2014 20:02:09 -0700 From: [email protected] Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: [USMA:53900] Associations Identify Using Metric Weights as Key to Avoiding Medication Errors with Pediatric Patients To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Ezra. In response to your question, Julie sent (via Facebook) this link to me: http://www.ena.org/about/media/PressReleases/Pages/Associations...aspx ----- Message from [email protected] --------- Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2014 01:42:37 +0000 (UTC) From: [email protected] Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: [USMA:53899] Re: News from the Future To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Cc: USMA <[email protected]> Is there any particular organization or other specific source for this initiative in ER nursing to weigh all patients only in kilograms? thanks, Ezra _____ From: [email protected] To: "USMA" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 1, 2014 5:54:37 PM Subject: [USMA:53897] News from the Future My friend Julie Grant Bickers a Registered Nurse in Terre Haute, Indiana responds to my blog (via Facebook) telling me about "an initiative in ER nursing that all weights on patients are to be in kg due to weight based medication dosing. We do not use pounds at all anymore. It is a step." ----- Message from Facebook <[email protected]> --------- Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2014 17:07:47 -0700 From: Facebook <[email protected]> Reply-To: Reply to Comment <e+06gwuoc000zg5axz8gi0037xi0wwcuh0000000000000000000000002n...@reply.facebook.com> Subject: Julie Grant Bickers commented on a link you shared. To: David Pearl <[email protected]> Julie wrote: "FYI.. it is an initiative in ER nursing that all weights on patients are to be in kg due to weight based medication dosing. We do not use pounds at all anymore. It is a step." - Reply to this email to comment on this link. <https://www.facebook.com/n/?david.pearl.165%2Fposts%2F327052894112009&comment_id=327053947445237&offset=0&total_comments=1&aref=14117588&medium=email&mid=9f5bd80G5af40bf38e92Gd76ad4GeG6f56&bcode=1.1401667667.Abmi5Jmq2nmWDjco&n_m=contact%40metricpioneer.com&lloc=logo> facebook <https://www.facebook...com/n/?julie.grantbickers&aref=14117588&medium=email&mid=9f5bd80G5af40bf38e92Gd76ad4GeG6f56&bcode=1.1401667667.Abmi5Jmq2nmWDjco&n_m=contact%40metricpioneer.com&lloc=image> <https://www.facebook.com/n/?julie.grantbickers&aref=14117588&medium=email&mid=9f5bd80G5af40bf38e92Gd76ad4GeG6f56&bcode=1.1401667667.Abmi5Jmq2nmWDjco&n_m=contact%40metricpioneer.com> Julie Grant Bickers commented on a <https://www.facebook.com/n/?david.pearl.165%2Fposts%2F327052894112009&comment_id=327053947445237&offset=0&total_comments=1&aref=14117588&medium=email&mid=9f5bd80G5af40bf38e92Gd76ad4GeG6f56&bcode=1.1401667667.Abmi5Jmq2nmWDjco&n_m=contact%40metricpioneer.com> link you shared. Julie wrote: "FYI.... it is an initiative in ER nursing that all weights on patients are to be in kg due to weight based medication dosing. We do not use pounds at all anymore. It is a step." Reply to this email to comment on this link. <https://www.facebook.com/n/?david.pearl.165%2Fposts%2F327052894112009&comment_id=327053947445237&offset=0&total_comments=1&aref=14117588&medium=email&mid=9f5bd80G5af40bf38e92Gd76ad4GeG6f56&bcode=1.1401667667.Abmi5Jmq2nmWDjco&n_m=contact%40metricpioneer.com&lloc=1st_cta> See Comment This message was sent to <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]. If you don't want to receive these emails from Facebook in the future, please <https://www.facebook.com/o.php?k=AS0RO49ZDiZnQmbQ&u=100004219031186&mid=9f5bd80G5af40bf38e92Gd76ad4GeG6f56> unsubscribe. Facebook, Inc., Attention: Department 415, PO Box 10005, Palo Alto, CA 94303 ----- End message from Facebook <[email protected]> ----- David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917 ----- End message from [email protected] ----- David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917 ----- End message from [email protected] ----- David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917
