Help !!! Looking for an Ambualnce cabinet securement policy

[amyrox]

Hi everybody - We have had so many issues with people not replacing equipment and just not keeping up with required house keeping duties that we are moving to a locked cabinet securement policy. Thoughts? Ideas? Sample policies? Any thing you can think of the help please let me know. Thanks for your time :!:

[JPINFV]

Make sure management has complete trust and oversight of who ever does the sealing. Once a few crews are missing something from the sealed cabinets the necessary trust that a seal means stocked is gone. It's not enough to be told that a sealed cabinet is properly stocked, the crews have to believe that it's stocked as well. Once that trust in the system is gone, you won't get it back.

[emtgrimreaper]

we use zip ties. everytime we open them we have to do an inventory and document what we used and show we replaced it. 8)

[CTXMEDIC]

MEDSTAR in Fort Worth has people that do this for the crews. How sweet is that..??

Supply Technician

Position Description

SUMMARY

General staff with primary responsibility to the Resource/Supply division trained and entrusted with the responsibility to ensure certify a clean and safe work environment for field staff and patient care.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Cleaning and decontaminating the ambulance patient compartment.

Cleaning and decontaminating the ambulance crew compartment.

Washing the outside of ambulances and other company vehicles.

General inspection of vehicle and proper reporting of damage.

Checking and changing main oxygen tank at 700 psi or less, replacing empty oxygen tanks.

Stocking equipment and supplies to proper storage areas in supply and on ambulances.

Assists with inventory of supplies and equipment in supply and on ambulances.

Driving of vehicles on city streets and local highways, abiding by all laws.

Handling and properly disposing and/or packing of biohazard materials.

Know and practice proper decontamination processes for all equipment.

Insuring that the decon bay, restock bay, supply rooms and grounds around service areas are free of hazards and clean.

Test equipment for proper functionality.

Recharging and calibrate batteries.

Insuring that an Equipment Failure Report (EFR) for equipment that does not work or that does not function safely has been documented.

Reporting any unsafe conditions or practices immediately to a supervisor.

Assisting in Emergency Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI).

Efficiently handling field crews’ concerns in a courteous manner.

Accurately maintain computerized and manual records.

Follows protocol for dispensing and maintaining controlled substances.

Ensures that all product expiration dates are reviewed and that expired product is disposed of in a proper manner.

All other duties as assigned.

Maintains high standards for health, safety, welfare and ethical behavior.

Adheres to all policies of agencies, institutional and regulatory bodies.

Conducts him/herself in a professional manner.

From what I understand, these guys drive around and meet crews at the hospitals to restock their truck. every truck is assigned a crew. when that crew gets off duty, they park it and the supply guys go through the truck checking equipment and restocking if needed. they then put a seal on the cabinets. crew arrives next shift and theyre good to go.

Talk about spoiled...WoW!

[JPINFV]

^

again, assuming that the service techs actually do their job. I'd rather spend time doing a full check every shift than be on a call and going "Oh, shit! I don't have _____, but the cabinet was sealed!"

[crotchitymedic1986]

Been through all of those, before you go drilling holes in your plexiglass, the best system I saw was sealed "tubs" inside an unsealed cabinet. The tupperware like tubs were probably 12 inches long, by 6 inches wide and about 5 inches deep. They placed items in the tub, had a sticker that had a tub # and the inventory list for the tub, with a seal in both ends. When the seal was broken, you just replaced the tub (from supply room). Took about 20 tubs per ambulance. All tubs were stocked the same, which meant tub #10 in any truck, had the same stock.

When you seal the cabinet, you sometimes break or crack the plexiglass, and the crew has to inventory the entire cabinet to figure out what is missing. With this system, you can inventory your softgoods in less than 3 minutes (if all are sealed). It is more costly than sealing cabinets, but more functional, especially if you need crews on-duty and ready to respond quickly.

P.S. All of the tubs were clear, so that you could visualize most of the contents without opening a container.

If you are a 911 service, you need to start some progressive disciplinary action. Have the supervisor tell them that atleast once-twice per week, he is going to remove a piece of equipment from someone's truck without their knowledge, if they turn in a pencil-whipped checklist without finding the missing equipment, send them home.

You should also have an "open supply room" or a mini-supply room that they can access 24/7 so they do not have to steal from other trucks. You can also by paint pens to label equipment with a truck number so that if stolen, it is easibly identifiable.

[spenac]

If you are a 911 service, you need to start some progressive disciplinary action. Have the supervisor tell them that atleast once-twice per week, he is going to remove a piece of equipment from someone's truck without their knowledge, if they turn in a pencil-whipped checklist without finding the missing equipment, send them home.

Careful doing that though. While I do agree with it the item you take needs to be something essential but that you have plenty of if they get a call before finding it. If not and you have say the handle and they can not intubate you are in as much if not more trouble than the crew.

But do not go and take 1 4X4 then write them up for only having 19 instead of the 20 on the check sheet. Now 10 instead of 20 should have been caught even in a quick check.

Like the tupperware idea. Might look at that here. Thanks.

So good test but can be dangerous or even to extreme.

[Arizonaffcep]

...you have say the handle and they can not intubate you are in as much if not more trouble than the crew.

But do not go and take 1 4X4 then write them up for only having 19 instead of the 20 on the check sheet. Now 10 instead of 20 should have been caught even in a quick check.

One of the BC's at my old FD did this same thing, but not with EMS equipment...with things like the tire jack, etc., something that DHS requires, but in reality isn't needed (we weren't allowed to touch the maintenance stuff, other than checking fluid levels, etc and adding as needed. They believed--rightfully so--that this is why they pay the mechanics to change tires, etc.) It worked to show who was checking their rigs, and who wasn't. And, direct patient care wasn't effected at all.

[FormerEMSLT297]

How about holding people accountable instead of drilling holes and buying locks...

I have heard of some systems that use a swipe card to access the cabinets, then officers can document who was the last person in which compartment.....

We check the rigs once a week, and we hae a list of inventory when meds expire, and our medication coordinator changes out the espired meds. If used on a call, the crew chief is reposnsible for replacement from the ER or house stock.

[reaper]

We use a box system. These are cardboard boxes. They are stocked by supply, then wrapped in plastic. End of shift, you bring in any box that was opened and exchange it for a new box. Supply then restocks it and reseals it. They keep premade boxes in supply. You are required to fill out a check off sheet, that shows all boxes are present on the truck, at the end of shift. Then the truck is ready for the next shift. All you have to check off is the jump bag and restock what is needed.

It works fairly well and makes restocking easier on the crews.