I am trying to find out what laws govern the repair and maintenance of dialysis equipment in dialysis centers in D.C. I have a friend who was fired for refusing to put false information about what repairs were (NOT!) done into her company's repair records. I have done a little research but can't find any laws that she is obligated under not to put wrong information.
Thanks for any help.

I think it will be up to her to prove that this is what management wanted her to do and that is going to be very hard. I once went to my DON to tell her about culture results being changed by another employee and I ended up getting written up for talking about my supervisor! Go figure...that's why I quit and have gone back to school. I wish her much luck!!! Nobody seems to care anymore...and that is sad

Since machines are different, the manufacturer's recommendations should be followed - which is what most standards would call for. I would say that she would need proof that she was asked to falsify documents. Did she keep copies of the originals before she was fired? I wish her luck. Makes me grateful to have the supervisor that I have!

Do you guys work for a National Chain? Without giving the name up for various reasons, I bet they are the largest chain in the country correct?

quote:

Originally posted by S Iyer:
I am trying to find out what laws govern the repair and maintenance of dialysis equipment in dialysis centers in D.C. I have a friend who was fired for refusing to put false information about what repairs were (NOT!) done into her company's repair records. I have done a little research but can't find any laws that she is obligated under not to put wrong information.
Thanks for any help.

Regulations need to be placed that repairs and maintenance on dialysis machines be kept current. This is the only way that patients safety is assured when at a clinic. Otherwise it is clearly at the providers discretion when p.m. is done.

As an employee of the biggest dialysis chain I take exception to the fact that you are implying that it is routine practice for this company to have managers telling employees to falsify records.
Sounds like you have an ax to grind !!!
What you are implying is false.

quote:

Originally posted by D. Smack:
Do you guys work for a National Chain? Without giving the name up for various reasons, I bet they are the largest chain in the country correct?

Big Chain Manager.....if anyone of my employess falsified a record they would not only be fired but reported to their Board of Nursing (which this is a reportable offense) or if it was a technician I would report to the Department of Health. (if that is the case)

quote:

Originally posted by Unregistered:
Regulations need to be placed that repairs and maintenance on dialysis machines be kept current. This is the only way that patients safety is assured when at a clinic. Otherwise it is clearly at the providers discretion when p.m. is done.

Again... someone wanting to put more 'regulations' on an already too regulated industry. What's next, having to wear gloves when we wash our hands? There are already 'regulations' as to when maintenance of dialysis equipment should occur, and believe me, it's checked when a facility is surveyed. However, the problem is too many people WRITING the regs instead of ENFORCING the regs. Laws are useless if there is no police to enforce them. But in the mean time, lets keep changing the regs and adding to them to make them more difficult to keep up with for the people who do care. We don't mind jumping through hoops!

[This message has been edited by GTSCSS (edited 09-29-2003).]

[This message has been edited by GTSCSS (edited 09-29-2003).]

re: GTSCSS; Let's all hope that you are following all of the regulations that are in place. Your patient's lives depend on it!

quote:

Originally posted by Unregistered:
re: GTSCSS; Let's all hope that you are following all of the regulations that are in place. Your patient's lives depend on it!

You don't need to 'hope' I'm adhering to regs. I am. What would lead you to believe otherwise? If I wasn't following the regs, would I give a hoot how often they were changed?

My point is that these regs are changed, in my opinion, too frequently. How do they know that the reg needs to be improved and/or modified? Nobody can say for sure because we never gave the original revision a chance and strictly enforced it. It's just like how the legal limit for blood alcohol level in a driver is .1 or .08 in most states right? Well, now we have people trying to get that limit lower. That's nice, but in the mean time people are still drinking and driving and getting away with it. People get away with it until it's too late. Why's that? Because nobody was there to ENFORCE the law. Too many law writers, not enough enforcers (not that I think the enforcement we have isn't working hard, but they just need more help). So what good is lowering the limit going to do? See where I'm going with this? I don't mean to gripe but I think everyone is taking these regs the wrong direction. We need to take all these people that are writing the regs and get them off their *$% and out in the field to enforce them. Maybe we'd see just how adequate our current standards are.

Please don't take this as a flame. I am just making my point of view known so my position is better understood.

[This message has been edited by GTSCSS (edited 10-02-2003).]

I'm still a little confused about exactly WHAT laws or regulations might apply. Can anyone direct me to specifics? Thanks.

Usually that can be found in the unit's policies and procedures. No company (well, guess I should say 'most') wants falsification of documents in a clinical settings and it is usually incorporated into the P&P manuals. However, under the circumstances it may be difficult to obtain that info. I would contact the state agency responsible for surveying that clinic and see if you can get some legal information from them. They would probably be more than happy to help out. I wish I could help you out with a phone number or other info but I'm not familiar with the area. Sorry. Hope that helps.

[This message has been edited by GTSCSS (edited 10-06-2003).]