RE: Hydrocollator safety

June 21, 2006

HI

I have also had this experience where a surveyor wanted the Hyrocollator

kept up and away from anywhere a pt would get to it. I thought that made a lot

of sense since many of the pts awaiting tx in that particular facility had

some type of dementia. The treatment room WAS locked at the end of each day.

Sally -McNamara, MCS, CCC-CLP, CCP

Rehab & Compliance Consultant

2820 Bisvey Drive

Falls Church Virginia 22042

fax

June 21, 2006

I work in a nursing home. We were also sited on this during our annual

survey as part of a safety violation. This machine sits behind my desk and

has been in the same location for five years. We were able to correct this

by placing a lock and chain around the handles so that the hydrocollator

machine was not accessible to the patients.

Carla Kazimir PT

Sun Valley, Ca.

Hydrocollator safety

> The Ohio Department of Health is doing their annual four-day survey in our

facility. They are claiming that keeping the hydrocollator on in a common

area is a violation of a resident safety policy. Last night our CEO

unplugged it in order to avoid the violation.

>

> Does anyone have any input or defense as to why this is unwarranted? I

have worked in many facilities, and the hydrocollator has never been locked

up at night.

>

> Thanks for your assistance

>

> Wendland PT

>

> Director of Rehab

>

> Montefiore

>

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>

June 21, 2006

I remember a facility in Tennessee where the therapy room was open during

the day in unattended area. They were required by someone (predates my

time) to lock the hydrocollator. They drilled some holes in the unit and

put a latch and padlock on it. The unit itself still became warm but the

hot water had limited access. From a “hindsight” safety standpoint, it

sounds like a great idea. One confused or limited sensation person coming

in and thinking it was a washing machine and you have a potential injury.

Steve Passmore PT

Healthy Recruiting Tools

_____

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf

Of Wendland

Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 6:11 AM

To: geriatricspt ; PTManager

Subject: Hydrocollator safety

The Ohio Department of Health is doing their annual four-day survey in our

facility. They are claiming that keeping the hydrocollator on in a common

area is a violation of a resident safety policy. Last night our CEO

unplugged it in order to avoid the violation.

Does anyone have any input or defense as to why this is unwarranted? I have

worked in many facilities, and the hydrocollator has never been locked up at

night.

Thanks for your assistance

Wendland PT

Director of Rehab

Montefiore

************-*********-*********-*********-*********-*********-*********-***

******-******

THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY TO

WHICH IT IS ADDRESSED AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS PRIVILEGED,

CONFIDENTIAL, AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee

or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient,

you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, forwarding, or

copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received

this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail

or telephone ()-, and delete the original message immediately.

Thank you.

June 21, 2006

We had a similar issue several years ago during state survey. You didn't

mention where the common area was. Our hydocollator is kept in a bathroom

which is accessed by walking through the staff office (located in our gym).

We were able to demonstrate that patients do not have access to that

bathroom unless accompanied by a staff member and that is only in

emergencies. Our protocol is to take the patient back to their room or use

the bathroom facilities across the hall from our gym. Additionally we have

a policy at our facility that only therapists can apply hot packs, nursing

staff do not even apply hot packs. Because of this limited access we were

able to continue using our hydrocollator in this " common " area. The door to

our staff office and gym is kept closed but not locked at night. It is

certainly always possible that a patient could wander in and suffer a burn

due to unsupervised access to the hydrocollator. You may pursue whether or

not you could put it in a closet or behind a screen to protect resident

safety.

Debbie

Director of Rehab

Northwoods Lodge

..

_____

From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf

Of Wendland

Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 4:11 AM