Monoplace Delivery System

Monthly Hyperbaric Safety Notice: January 2007

Hyperbaric Facility Security Measures

Background

All hyperbaric employees share in the responsibility of ensuring the overall safety of the facility for the patients we serve. We dwell on this issue month after month in both safety notices and safety drills.

The tendency is to start trusting our patients as we see them daily for treatments and begin to form relationships with them. However, we have to step back and remind ourselves that we still need to maintain basic scrutiny measures. While functioning in these public domains, we are in constant risk of someone entering our facility with ill intention for reasons we may never understand since we are only trying to help them or their loved one.

In addition to patients and family, there are numerous other individuals that may have cause to venture into our facilities. Examples include environmental service workers, biomedical engineers, security personnel, facilities management and various other agents. At any time, these individuals have the potential to tamper with, or walk off with, equipment that might make our job difficult to do without. Keep in mind, any damage may be done unintentionally, but the impact it has on the service may be significant.

The Issue

A recent event occurred that was an eye opener for one of our HBO facilities. It was lunch time and the team decided to go out for lunch. The unit door was left unlocked. Upon returning from lunch, the staff was met by two patients waiting inside the facility. One patient was accompanied by his wife and small child.

When both of these patients were at pressure, it was discovered that the digital camera that had been left on the desk prior to lunch was missing. The staff was suspicious of one patient’s family but since the unit was left open during lunch, there is no way to know what really happened.

More thoughts came to mind with the passing of that event. What else could the presumed thief have tampered with or also taken from the unit? Were patient files exposed, thereby representing a HIPAA violation? Was the child supervised while the staff was out, or might the hoses and exhausts that were diligently inspected in the morning, now be in a state of potential compromise? Could a flammable item, like a lighter have been misplaced into the bedding of the stretchers that lie out and open in anticipation of the next patient? Perhaps a housekeeper had just walked back in from a smoke break? What other valuables might have been pocketed; pulse ox, thermometer, otoscope? All these items should be secured when a staff member is not present in the unit.

All of these events listed have actually occurred at our facilities around the country over the past several years, including the cigarette lighter! Its time we think more about our existing security measures to protect ourselves, the equipment we work with and the patients we serve. Consider the current security measures in place and discuss as a team where things can be improved upon.

Bottom Line

ALWAYS lock up ‘purse size’ equipment
ALWAYS lock the unit when no staff is present
ALWAYS exercise caution in dealing with patients and their families
When you suspect the integrity of the unit may be comprised, stop and conduct a complete unit safety inspection prior to resuming treatment
Report the event to the Manage

Contributing Author: Dick Clarke, CHT

Dick Clarke Dick is President of National Baromedical Services, which he founded in 1986. His previous background included service in the British Royal Navy, diving instructor and underwater photographer, assistant director of the seabed habitat 'HydroLab' and several years in the offshore commercial diving industry. Dick heads the Baromedical Research Foundation where he serves as Principal Investigator for several international clinical trials. He is course director for 'Primary Training in Hyperbaric Medicine' and the 'HBO 2000' series of advanced hyperbaric symposia. Dick has been a NOAA Diving Medical Officer Training Course faculty member since 1983. He pioneered the Certification in Hyperbaric Technology (CHT) program, is a past president of the National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology and remains active at the committee level within the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society.

Full Panel of Safety and Technical Correspondents

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