College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation is one of the most important recognitions for any medical laboratory. Passing a CAP inspection is no easy feat: it requires considerable documentation, discipline, and process proficiency. In other words, it’s definitely a lot easier to fail your next cap inspection than it is to pass it. Here are …
Needlestick and sharps injuries are a major concern at hospitals, healthcare facilities, and laboratories. An estimated 800,000 injuries occur annually in the United States. A CDC study estimated that in the average hospital, workers incur approximately 30 reported needlestick injuries per 100 beds each year. While the majority of these injuries don’t result in the transmission …
Before you don those purple gloves, you might want to consider how that glove color could make your patients feel. Color psychology suggests that purple signifies authority, sophistication, and power (think kingly robes and clerical vestments). While that color could be ideal for a surgeon demonstrating a difficult procedure to a group of students, perhaps …
Lab techs are a passionate bunch, but they’re not all that difficult to please. Sure, they’re dreamers (mmm, beers with Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson), but they’re also down to earth. Organization, cleanliness, and caffeine are usually enough to fill lab techs’ hearts with joy. Here are seven things that make lab techs ridiculously …
Everybody knows they’re supposed to practice proper hand hygiene, but that doesn’t mean everybody does. The importance of hand hygiene in healthcare facilities cannot be overstated. It’s a widely known fact that hand washing is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of infection. Sometimes people just need a little extra nudge. …
The best ideas do not end. Once they’ve taken shape, they are revisited and improved upon continuously to fulfill ever changing needs. This notion rings especially true in the infection prevention world. A seemingly minor tweak can transform a tried-and-true product solution into a revolutionary new way to prevent the spread of superbugs and other …
Flu season 2015-16 is fast approaching, and as the virus continues to evolve, so must our defenses. While person-to-person contact is the most likely vehicle of transmission, it’s not the only possibility. Human influenza viruses can live on surfaces for up to 8 hours, according to the CDC. That’s plenty of time for it to …
The healthcare industry has an alcohol problem. When hand sanitizers gained popularity in the 1990s, alcohol bases were the norm. The big question was, “do they work?” not “what’s in them?” Fast-forward to 2015. We know hand sanitizers are usually an acceptable substitute for soap and water. We’re more knowledgeable about hygiene. Technology has improved. …
5 Reasons to Switch to Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer Read More »
Traveling light is a discipline that extends beyond packing luggage. Why do we feel compelled to drag along more than we need? Why, the what-ifs, of course! What if a packet of ketchup explodes on the only suit I brought? What if a bear eats my tie? What if 27 rolls of CoFlex Cohesive Bandages …
3 Affordable Phlebotomy Station Solutions that Will Lighten Your Load Read More »
As Ebola begins to fade from national headlines, a familiar threat reemerges: complacency. Hospitals and healthcare facilities have been on high alert since American aid workers were infected several months ago. Infectious disease preparation has gotten a closer look. That’s the silver lining. Unfortunately, this is momentum easily lost. The loudness of tightening budgets tends …
3 Misconceptions about Infectious Disease Preparation Read More »
