Final Conversion makes BWH "Needle Safe"- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Final Conversion makes BWH "Needle Safe"- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
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January 28, 2000
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In This Issue:
Top 100-T-shirt Celebration
GM's day-after-discharge Telephone Program
Patient Access Services is Top in Nation
Final Conversion makes BWH "Needle Safe"
Bill Russell Celebrates Dr M.L. King Legacy
Pike Notes
Town Meeting
Less than a year after being charged with creating and maintaining a needle-safe environment throughout BWH, the Needle Safety Team is about to complete the conversion to safe needle products. On February 7, all needle products without safety mechanisms will be removed from all clinical practices and replaced with safe alternatives. The team is comprised of more than 60 members representing all disciplines who have assessed BWH’s current needle-safe operations; standardized the use of needle-safe products and related policy and procedures; and assessed the efficiency and safety of new needle-safe products. On February 7, Materials Management will stock each nursing station with safe needle products and remove all unsafe material. They will start on Tower 16, continue working down the Tower, and complete the conversion in the Connors Center. Materials Management will also collaborate with Ambulatory areas to efficiently convert to safe products. Please contact Phil Hunt in Materials Management with questions regarding the conversion in a particular area. In addition, the use of the Monoject Needle/Syringe Combo will be discontinued and replaced with a comparable needle/syringe combo product line from BD. For more information regarding this product line conversion, please contact either Charlotte Messinger or Sharon Kohler. Upon the completion of this final conversion, all clinical areas will be stocked with 100% safety items. Only a very few exempted items will remain. In preparation of this conversion, extensive education and in-service programs have been conducted, and will continue through the conversion. Staff who have not had the opportunity to learn about safety products should contact their Needle Safety Unit Leader. A list of unit leaders is available from Tonya Miltier or Charlotte Messinger.