The Food and Drug Administration has banned the use of powdered gloves in healthcare. This ban went into effect January 18, 2017. The powder currently used has been shown to carry the risk of allergic reactions, as well as cause numerous potentially severe complications primarily in surgical patients.
All facilities, physicians, dentists and other providers should be aware that these products must be removed from use. Click here to read the FDA’s Rule published in the Federal Register or click here to read commentary from Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare (PSHQ). MLMIC recommends that all our insureds protect their patients and ensure their practices are in compliance with this directive.
Hospitals should be aware that provider-based urgent care centers that are held out to the public as such will likely meet the definition of a “dedicated emergency department” and will be subject to full EMTALA compliance.
The Joint Commission (JC) issued a clarification reversing its position on the texting of medical orders: “The use of secure text orders is not permitted at this time.”
ECRI Institute has released its 2017 list of healthcare technology hazards – problems that can be avoided through careful management of technologies. The list can be used to enhance patient safety efforts.