|
|
|
|
The “Phlebotomist” Optimized for Performance ………. are we?………
On the forefront of healthcare is the phlebotomist. What is happening on the forefront of phlebotomy? Are we keeping abreast of it all? What has changed since the Needle Safety and Prevention Act ? What happened to the Phlebotomy Coalition? Does it matter? Are we accessing the correct information? Are we being the beneficial and responsible phlebotomist’s at our facility? We, phlebotomist serve as an ambassador to the laboratory. Phlebotomy is a crucial component of patient care, since laboratory results are dependent on the quality of collected blood specimen received for analysis. We, phlebotomist must ………
Updates/revisions (www.clsi.org) Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute
_ Blood culture collection _ Capillary collection _ Filter paper collection
H03-A6—Procedures for the Collection of Diagnostic Blood Specimens by Venipuncture; Approved
Standard—Sixth Edition H03-A6 QG—Quality Venipuncture Quick Guide H04-A5—Procedures and Devices for the Collection of Diagnostic Capillary Blood Specimens; Approved Standard—Fifth Edition
H04-A5 QG—Technique for Skin Puncture Quick Guide
LA04-A5—Blood Collection on Filter Paper for Newborn Screening Programs; Approved Standard—Fifth Edition LA04-A5 QG—Set of Two Newborn Screening Quick Guides
M29-A3 QG—Personal Protection in the Laboratory Quick Guide
M47-A—Principles and Procedures for Blood Cultures; Guidelines
Procedure Has your facility updated venipuncture procedure in their manuals? As a result, if they have not, it may reflect the standard of care for procedures, putting them at risk of liability. Furthermore, standards and guidelines should be on every phlebotomist and educator’s agenda, creating well-written phlebotomy and specimen procedures. All standards and guidelines should be based on the approval of Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute and NAACLS.
Legislation …………. Awareness in your state, if any report it…………….. FYI Texas Did you know that a study conducted at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas showed that a comparison of blood cultures contamination rated associated with phlebotomists and non-phlebotomy staff in the ED at Parkland Memorial Hospital? The comparison showed by utilizing well-trained phlebotomist to collect blood cultures in the ED, the contamination rates were lowered to recommend levels, with projected reductions in patient charges of approximately $4.1 million per year. Does your have a strategic plan that is employed by law enforcement officers to obtain search warrants for blood when suspected drivers refuse a breathalyzer test. In Texas, those who refuse a breathalyzer leave the officers with only one option to enforce: a blood draw. See Texas House Bill 509, which takes effect September 2009. Along with HB 509 there are five other related DWI bills. HB 509 is DWI Bill #1. HB 259 did not pass in 2007. HB 509 ……………..Another related House Bill (HB 823)
Public Safety Committee HB 823 Turner/ Sylvester | Rodriguez | Edwards - Relating to the authority of a peace officer to take a blood specimen from a vehicle operator to test for alcohol concentration or other intoxicating substances. YES, in Favor: Restrict a peace officer from taking blood! Below is the bill analysis by the Texas Legislative Service BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently in Texas there is an increasing trend of law enforcement agencies implementing "no refusal" policies in an effort to increase conviction rates for suspected DWI violations. A "no refusal" policy results in an arresting officer obtaining a search warrant to obtain a blood specimen when a suspect refuses to give a breath specimen. Often these search warrants contain pre-drafted, boilerplate language so that the officer can obtain a blood specimen as close to the time of arrest as possible. The current law states that only a physician, qualified technician, chemist, registered professional nurse, or licensed vocational nurse may take a blood specimen. One method law enforcement agencies who have implemented "no refusal" policies have used is taking suspects to local hospitals and having nurses draw the blood specimens. Many hospitals have expressed concerns with liability, lack of resources, and inappropriate use of emergency room facilities and staff, and in some instances have asked the law enforcement agencies to stop bringing suspects to their emergency rooms. This has led some law enforcement agencies to train their officers in phlebotomy, or the practice of drawing blood. Sometimes all that is needed for such training is a 20-hour course. Once this training is complete, the agencies are claiming that their officers are qualified technicians under the current law. A law enforcement agency's goal is to protect and serve. This task is often accomplished with little resources. Asking officers to draw blood keeps them from performing their primary duties. Police officers are not properly trained in medicine even if they complete phlebotomy training. This policy undermines public safety, diminishes community trust in law enforcement, and could expose police departments to increased liability.
H.B. 823 prohibits a peace officer from taking a blood specimen from a motor vehicle operator to test for alcohol concentration or other intoxicating substances regardless of whether the officer is a member of the medical profession a chemist, or a qualified technician authorized to take a blood specimen in such a situation. The bill passed out of committee by vote 7-0 and was referred favorably to Calendars Committee!
the above information was Posted by TxGreen-Lege at on May 8. 2009
The “Results begin with the Phlebotomist” The Phlebotomy Coalition Update What is a coalition? A coalition is a diverse group of individuals and organizations that work together to reach a common goal. The goals might be a number of things, but often includes one of the following:
Why develop a coalition?
The Phlebotomy Coalition is dormant, at least for now per the Director of the Center for Phlebotomy Education and Chair of the Phlebotomy Coalition, Dennis Ernst, MT (ASCP). Mr. Ernst is a renowned speaker both internationally and nationally. In addition, to these accolades, Mr. Ernst has authored books, created video’s, and, has lectured around the globe, to include at our AMT Meeting both at a state and national level. As I see it, he is the Leader of Phlebotomy Education. In addition, Mr. Ernst has identified people in thirty-five states who expressed an interest in getting active within their states, in order to bring about minimum training standards to phlebotomy programs. Since its formation in 2003, the Coalition has worked to introduce bills establishing professional standards for phlebotomists and other specimen-collection personnel in Kentucky, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Missouri. It is currently working on draft legislation in Utah and Michigan. Even though the Connecticut and Kentucky bills did not make it out of committee, the Coalition has encouraged sponsors and supporters to reintroduce revised bills in the next legislative session. California is currently the only state that mandates training for specimen-collection personnel. Remember poorly trained specimen blood collection personnel, often commit pre-analytical errors that affect the performance of blood collection systems, cause laboratory instrumentation problems, and, lead to erroneous results, putting the patient in jeopardy. Discover ways to sharpen your phlebotomy skills. Furthermore, “let us not forget” that we are the Registered Phlebotomist of the American Medical Technologists, the “Pride of the Profession.” Linda M. Raven, AAS, AS, RMA, RPT, CLMA (AMT)
|
|
WEBMASTER rpolasky@familyplace.com PRESIDENT Annaseals@aol.com Last Edited:06/21/2009 |
