Besides the concerns about infection potential for the patients, and possibility of mixing up the tubings, there is another issue. I would never take a used (translation: DIRTY) tubing (or any other dirty device) into the room where we prepare medications or store clean and sterile equipment. This is not logical, and is not within our hospital's standards. My manager is the Director of Infection Control. She would torture me for such a mistake.
Leigh Ann
-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Harmon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tue, 16 May 2006 20:52:04 -0800
Subject: Re: outpt infusion reusing IV tubing 72hr
INS standards state "once tubing has been disconnected from a patient it then becomes a 24hour line." This does not specify for inpatient or outpatient.
I believe that is you looked at your cost of tubing per item it is really a low cost item vs. possible line infection. It would take only (1) one infection to cancel out your cost savings.
Betsy Harmon RN CRNI
Vascular Access Team
Critical Care Unit
Alaska Native Medical Center
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 4:14 PM
Subject: outpt infusion reusing IV tubing 72hr ;
> To reduce cost a suggestion was made to reuse the IV tubing for 72hours on > a patient that comes in for daily infusion. The patient would have a PICC > and come for maybe daily abx's. The infusion is done the tubing flushed > with NS, disconnected from the PICC and a sterile cap placed on the IV > tubing. It is stored in the med room and used by the same pt for 3 > infusions.
> We have been discarding the tubing daily and replacing with new IV tubing > daily.
>
> Any support for or against this suggested practice. P&P is for tubing > change 72 hrs but that was written for inpt
>
> Thanks
>
> Pat Dobson
>
I believe that is you looked at your cost of tubing per item it is really a low cost item vs. possible line infection. It would take only (1) one infection to cancel out your cost savings.
Betsy Harmon RN CRNI
Vascular Access Team
Critical Care Unit
Alaska Native Medical Center
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 4:14 PM
Subject: outpt infusion reusing IV tubing 72hr ;
> To reduce cost a suggestion was made to reuse the IV tubing for 72hours on > a patient that comes in for daily infusion. The patient would have a PICC > and come for maybe daily abx's. The infusion is done the tubing flushed > with NS, disconnected from the PICC and a sterile cap placed on the IV > tubing. It is stored in the med room and used by the same pt for 3 > infusions.
> We have been discarding the tubing daily and replacing with new IV tubing > daily.
>
> Any support for or against this suggested practice. P&P is for tubing > change 72 hrs but that was written for inpt
>
> Thanks
>
> Pat Dobson
>
