August 2011 - Posts

Tall Man Lettering
August 29, 2011 6:25 AM by Scott Warner

Many hospitals are using “tall man” lettering, which the Institute for Safe Medication Practices describes as “uppercase letters that are used within a drug name to highlight its primary dissimilarities with look-alike drug names.” (Example: HumaLOG and Read More...

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How Hard Do You Work?
August 24, 2011 6:06 AM by Scott Warner

In the 1999 comedy Office Space , the protagonist explains to a productivity expert why working harder doesn’t pay off: “My only real motivation is not to be hassled, that and the fear of losing my job. But you know, Bob, that will only make someone work Read More...

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Outsourcing
August 19, 2011 6:18 AM by Scott Warner

Almost since entering this profession, I’ve heard why laboratories will be outsourced. Hospital labs will be replaced by physician labs. Point of care instruments will make lab techs obsolete. Nurses can always do your job. All testing will be sent to Read More...

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Naming Tests
August 15, 2011 6:00 AM by Scott Warner

When I started my current position, our information system contained several thousand laboratory tests, all in caps (e.g. GLUCOSE). This was the only consistent naming convention. Tests with multiple CPT codes linked items together with a haphazard naming Read More...

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Keeping Busy
August 10, 2011 6:18 AM by Scott Warner

It occurred to me after my last blog that giving report shift to shift is pointless. Lab techs are nearly always too busy to talk about what they’re doing. They are often overwhelmed because outpatients are backed up, the ED is swamped, the floor is nuts, Read More...

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Shift to Shift
August 5, 2011 6:11 AM by Scott Warner

Hospital nurses typically “give report,” a brief meeting at the change of shift to communicate what’s happening with patients. They also may have daily huddles to talk about problem patients or weekly multidisciplinary team meetings to make sure there Read More...

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Personal Protective Equipment
August 1, 2011 6:00 AM by Scott Warner

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA 1910.132) states that employers are responsible to assess a workplace for hazards and supply any personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect employees, at the employer’s expense. Employers have Read More...

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