Guest guest Posted June 21, 2006 Report Share Posted 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 21, 2006 Report Share Posted 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 > > **************************************************************************** ***** > 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. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 21, 2006 Report Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 21, 2006 Report Share Posted 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 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 21, 2006 Report Share Posted June 21, 2006 At our SNF, both hospital-based and off-site, the hydrocollator units are kept in a locked room so there is no chance of a patient opening the unit and getting burned. This change was implemented ~ 5 or 6 years ago in response to a surveyor-based 'recommendation'. Irene Bartlett, Rehab Director Mercy-Des Moines ________________________________ 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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