The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care Institute for Quality Improvement identified three things ASCs can implement to improve safety and increase patient satisfaction, according to a story on MedPage Today.
Naomi Kuznets, the institute's vice president and senior director, and a team of researchers collected data on 1,419 colonoscopies from 54 centers. Patient data was self reported. The patients in the six months of cases range from 16-years-old to 86-years-old, and 53 percent of them were female.
Here's what you should know.
1. "Follow Guidelines for Testing Fluids Used for Sterilization or High-Level Disinfection"
Sterilize or use a high-level disinfectant on GI endoscopes, and sterilize the cutting instruments used to pierce the mucosal barrier before their use. In the study, 2 percent of the clinics used sterilization, 79 percent said they used a high level disinfectant and 19 percent used both.
Centers should list steps to test the fluids used in scope sterilization and then follow them. Only 85 percent of the centers said they had followed all the steps.
2. "Follow Guidelines for Pre-Sterilization Equipment Cleaning"
Reprocessing colonoscopes and cleaning equipment is necessary for patient safety. Although there was a 96 percent self-reported compliance rate, feedback on techniques "suggested that not all the participating organizations were adhering to national guidelines."
AAAHC suggests implementing a competency test to ensure staff is well-versed in regulations.
3. "Educate Patients on Proper Bowel Preparation"
A quarter of the surveyed patients reported discomfort during bowel preparation. By prepping the patients with directions, the procedure can be done accurately and effectively.
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