Last updated on 7/1/21 | First published on 11/30/18 | Literature review current through Sep. 2023
[cite]
Authors:
Jeff Mize RRT, CHT, UHMSADS,
Tiffany Hamm BSN, RN, CWS, ACHRN, UHMSADS,
more...
Coauthor(s)
Jeff Mize, RRT, CHT, UHMSADS
Disclosures: Nothing to disclose
Tiffany Hamm, BSN, RN, CWS, ACHRN, UHMSADS
Chief Nursing Officer, Wound Reference, IncDisclosures: Nothing to disclose
Editors
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Safety Stop
Clinicians providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy go to great lengths to ensure patient safety with every treatment. We utilize processes and systems that have been developed within the field, in some cases through “near misses” and from standards set forth by The Joint Commission (TJC) and the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS).
In June of 2014, the UHMS Safety Committee released a position statement recommending the utilization of a safety “Stop” prior to the start of every hyperbaric treatment. The position statement is available on the UHMS website:
“The Safety Committee of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society recommends that a Safety Time Out/Pause (STOP) be performed prior to the start of every hyperbaric treatment. A STOP should be completed regardless of multiplace or monoplace operations. A STOP will be performed in order to be compliant with safety goals, to combat complacency, and document completion of our unique safety practices. We recommend that the STOP be modeled after the timeouts performed before surgical procedures."
STOP Checklist
The Practice of Hyperbaric medicine is a procedure-oriented specialty. Each patient should have two identifiers verified and the patient should agree to the procedure. For the safety of patients and staff, we strongly encourage documentation of a Safety Time Out/Pause (STOP) protocol verifying the “Right Patient, Right Treatment and Right Safety.” The STOP checklist should include:
- Signature and date on the completed STOP checklist (signed or initialed by two staff members prior to closing the door of the chamber)
- Treatment profile and staffing plan
- Out of the chamber - confirmation that prohibited items were removed from the chamber (both monoplace and multiplace)
- Patient ground check (monoplace)
The UHMS recommends that each hyperbaric facility and institution develop and implement a STOP protocol with these basic elements. A basic template can be found here. A more detailed protocol may be in order depending on the specific needs of the facility.
The UHMS Safety Committee position statement provides a structured approach to pre-treatment procedures. This statement is long overdue and should be taken one step further to include pre-hyperbaric treatment checklists. Pre-treatment checklists have been employed for many years and include inspection and confirmation that Prohibited Items have been removed from the patient’s possession prior to initiation of the treatment. Elements of the Safety STOP should be included in all pre-treatment checklists.
In an article published on the NEJM Catalyst website, “Smartlists for Patients: The Next Frontier for Engagement?” Latif et al. identify that checklists work by providing information about who needs to act, what actions need to be taken, and how, where, and when each action should occur. As such, customized patient-centered checklists have a wide range of applications, with the potential to improve patient education, pre-procedure planning, discharge instructions, care coordination, chronic care management, and plans for staying well.
The question becomes, at what point is the inspection and verification of Prohibited Items documented? Are you inspecting the patient, verifying, initiating treatment (descent) and then documenting? If so, then utilizing a “STOP” prior to the initiation of descent should be implemented and utilized to ensure all pre-treatment safety checks are appropriately completed.
Resources
The WoundReference Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Knowledge Base features guidelines to promote high standards of patient care and operational safety within the hyperbaric program and other important tools. The WoundReference Curbside Consult gives you actionable, specific answers from our multidisciplinary clinical and reimbursement advisory panel in a timely manner.
For customized safety programs and other wound care and hyperbaric medicine consultation services, visit MidWest Hyperbaric.
Acknowledgements
We thank Julie Rhee ScM, for style editing
References
- The UHMS Safety Committee UHMS Blog, accessed 10-26-2018: http://uhmsblog.wordpress.com/2014/07/31
- The Joint Commission, Standards, National Patient Safety Goal, Universal Protocol, accessed 10-26-2018 http://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/up.aspx
- NEJM Catalyst, Smartlists for Patients: The Next Frontier for Engagement, accessed 10-26-18: https://catalyst.nejm.org/patient-centered-checklists-next-frontier
Instructions: Below is a template for a Safety Time Out/Pause (STOP) checklist, which can be adapted to fit your needs. A fillable PDF is attached for your convenience. Prior to use, ensure the adapted version is reviewed and approved by responsible parties within the HBO clinic/hos
pital.
Patient Name:_____________________________________________________________________________
STOP time begin: ___________ STOP time end: _____________ HBO treatment #:_____________
Checklist MUST be completed and documented prior to pressurization of chamber.
Confirm Patient’s Name on Forms
| Chamber Grounded
|
Vital Signs
| Patient Grounded and Ground Wire secured to chamber
|
Blood Glucose Level N/A
| Water Bottle
|
100% Cotton
| Mask Connected
|
Medication N/A
| IV Secure N/A
|
Monitor N/A
| * Disposable Disinfection IV caps N/A
|
Lung Sounds
| Foley Secure N/A
|
Pain Assessed
| Drain Secure N/A
|
* Pain/Heat patches N/A
| *Implanted Medical Devices N/A
|
Banned Item Inspection
| * Wound Vac N/A |
Wash Hands prior to treatment
|
|
* Further documentation may be necessary if present or if applicable
Treatment profile: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Attending physician: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Notes:__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature:____________________________________________________Date:_________
Signature____________________________________________________Date:__________
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NOTE: This is a controlled document. This document is not a substitute for proper training, experience, and exercising of professional judgment. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, neither the authors nor the Wound Reference, Inc. give any guarantee as to the accuracy of the information contained in them nor accept any liability, with respect to loss, damage, injury or expense arising from any such errors or omissions in the contents of the work.