Marshall M. Baker, MS, FACMPE, president of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, offers advice on the appropriate use of multi-dose vials.
Marshall Baker: There are many pieces of misinformation still floating around out there about the appropriate use of multi-dose vials. Our counsel would be to include a copy of CDC Guidelines for Safe Injection Practices FAQs for Providers and the link to the Safe Injection Practices Coalition (SIPC) at www.OneandOnlyCampaign.org as a reference in the organization's policy/procedure manuals.
AAAHC has been a SIPC steering committee member since 2008 when the CDC Foundation convened this group. The One and Only Campaign link provides the pathway for an interested party to obtain a free 10-minute training video for staff and providers on appropriate injection practices. Using the video might be an important step toward compliance with CMS requirements and AAAHC standards (2010 Ch 3.B-3 and 7.II.C) for an ASC's initial and ongoing safety education for staff and providers.
Learn more about AAAHC.
Read more guidance on meeting accreditation standards:
- Failure to Label Pre-Drawn Medications Properly
- Can ASC Recovery Rooms Be Used for Pre-Operative Functions?
- Guidance for Preventing Patient Falls