For an overall assessment of your facility from a medical gas perspective, QI® Risk provides an in-depth inspection of the gas supply system in accordance with International Standards; recognised Best Operating Practice and the respective country-specific Regulations. Starting from a site audit which focuses on, among other issues, safety, product and operational risks, recommendations are then consequently given for safety improvements, risk management and compliance to standards. An extended service can include establishing operational policy, maintenance and cylinder storage specifications, updating of pipeline drawings, design advice for supply system improvements and contingency planning.
Identify risks
Linde Healthcare will survey the medical gas related equipment and conduct interviews with your staff, covering all of the areas referred to in regulatory guidelines, standard operating procedures and best practice. The audit will point out areas of non-compliance and include identification of potential risks and shortcomings in the following areas:
- Level of patient risk.
- Bulk tank sizing and advice on safe location.
- Gas supply equipment capacity and condition.
- Distribution systems.
- Manual handling.
- Management systems and documentation: preventative maintenance effectiveness.
- Training needs analysis.
- Cylinder storage and signage.
- Provision of equipment and emergency backup.
Emergency preparedness
Documented risk analysis
Identifying the risks in your hospital is not enough. They then need to be documented, prioritised and incorporated into your hospital’s risk register. We are able to provide a qualified, impartial and pragmatic view of risk in your systems, using our experience with supplying medical gases for over 50 years. We apply verified risk analysis methodology using our own database to ensure consistency.
Some common risks identified by comparison to regulatory guidance and best practice include
- No or limited nurse/ancillary staff training.
- No designated nursing or medical officer for gases.
- Inadequate product/prohibition/warning signage and emergency notices.
- Medical gas piping drawings incomplete/out of date.
- Operational Policy incomplete/out of date.
- No clear control of contractor operations.
- Inadequate storage/segregation of full and empty cylinders.
- No knowledge of standards/compliance shortcomings.
- No cylinder management programme in place.
- No designated storage points at ward level.
- Indistinct MGPS (Medical Gas Pipeline System) specifications.
- No indication of plant and system flow rate capacities/demand characteristics.
- Authorised Person not identified or sufficiently authorised.
No planned maintenance programme.
Establishing an Operational Policy
International and national standards require that a detailed Operational Policy is in place at each hospital to ensure pharmaceutical quality gas delivery to patients. This requires that a policy is developed specific to the hospital and based on a comprehensive compliance survey. The policy should be detailed enough to promote best practice procedures and information.
Elements would include but not be limited to system description overview and operation, management responsibilities, identification of stakeholders and respective responsibilities, staff training requirements, operation of the permit to work system, normal and emergency operational procedures, specifications of supply plant and manifold log sheets.