It will soon be against CMS policy to have dummy drip chambers in the units. What is everyone doing about calibrating their air detectors and test running machines in the repair area? My thought is to use a complete venous blood line that is filled and clamped off or tied where needed and tag it, "For Calibration Use Only, Not For Patient Use". The problem that I see with having a smaller version of a filled drip chamber for cal purposes is that it might get out into the unit and you might be cited for that. Anyone else have a suggestion on how to do this without always getting a new blood line and filling it each time that you want to do a cal or run/test a machine in the repair area?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ktech,

I share your concern. If CMS finds a dummy chamber on the clinical floor, it is immediate jeopardy. If I see a dummy chamber in the clinical area, it is immediate discipline for the employee.

I keep 2 chambers in the tech area. The line stubs at both ends are flagged with 2" x 6"
yellow and black reflective tape. This makes it real obvious if they go missing. But nothing is a subsitute for training and dilligence. There will always be that industrious individual that makes their own. I routinely remind the staff of the dangers of dummy chamber, and I patrol the floor and check drawers and other hiding places, you'd be suprised.

Hope that helps.

I have my dummy chambers labeled "Technical Dept." and keep them under lock and key. Staff has been trained and warned to never use a dummy chamber for anything.

I travel to several facilities, so all my equipment goes with me. Leave no "man" behind, only documentation. I am like an enigma, rarely seen but my presence is well known. Kinda like the Lone Ranger of the Biomedical world...LOL

for you F guys, why not ask upper mgmt how to do your job w/o violating policy?

I bet accounting can give them many rea$on$ why you should use full sets every time.

I have to say that this is all kinda silly. Why not have a zero-tolerance policy with nurses and techs.

"You touch dummy, you're fired, Dummy."

That policy might exist, so I guess actually enforcing it might work.

What "advantage" do they gain in using the dummies that would be worth their job?

I attached some old blood pressure tubing(black) to the chamber and screwed the end to the wall. I made it long enough to reach anywhere in my room. I also got rid of any extra ones I had laying around. We had a big problem with PCT's taking them and leaving them in the clinic. I also would forget to take them out after a PM and they would end up in spare machine storage area in the clinic. This solved the problem for us. We also reminded the staff of our policy against the use of the dummy chambers in the clinic and the danger they can pose.

To the source: Fresenius policy does not allow dummy chambers anywhere in the clinic except for the tech repair room. In my area we use a complete venous line. A large bright pink tag attached to the coiled up line at each end states that use of dummy chambers by anyone except tech staff is strictly prohibited. We are allowed only two dummy chambers per clinic, and they are kept locked up when not in use. Problems are non-existent.
Nuff said

We implemented this policy in our clinics about 5 years ago, and our Adm threatened any one caught using a dummy chamber in the unit would be terminated! Well needless to say she had to prove herself and in about 6 months the 1st tech got fired! well in 2 more weeks the next tech from another clinic who was aware of the 1st tech to loose her job took a dummy chamber to the unit,well she also wwas fired. Enough stories traveled around about this till at this point it has been over 3 years snd there has not been another incedence. Capital Punishment is a GREAT DETERENT!

What is the staff doing with these?

Never heard of this problem, yet I work in a small acute unit.

quote:

Originally posted by Guest:
What is the staff doing with these?

Never heard of this problem, yet I work in a small acute unit.

Some staff will use them to put the Fresenius machine through alarms test before they set up. The danger is that they leave the dummy in the level detector.