power strips outlawed in ORs

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Monty Python

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Our ORs lack the full amount of needed wall outlets. Each OR has 2-3 power strips on the floor, plus a multi-outlet uninterruptible power supply strip on the circulator RN's wheeled computer stand. Recently CMS outlawed such items in all "patient care areas."

http://www.ashe.org/resources/ashenews/issuebriefs/2014/issue_brief_140604.html

Anybody else dealt with this announcement in your facility?

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This is what we do.
ASHE Deputy Executive Director Chad Beebe stated at the recently-concluded ASHE Annual Conference that ASHE is working with CMS and others to attempt to convince CMS to issue a categorical waiver that reflects the language of NFPA 99-2012. Whether or not CMS issues the sought-after categorical waiver, the following language in NFPA 99-2012 paragraph 10.2.3.6 (Multiple Outlet Connection) may become official for survey purposes in the future if CMS adopts NFPA 99-2012 as it has indicated it intends to do. The 2012 NFPA 99 requirements, which may still be more restrictive than many hospitals currently practice, state:

Two or more power receptacles supplied by a flexible cord shall be permitted to be used to supply power to plug-connected components of a movable equipment assembly that is rack-, table-, pedestal-, or cart-mounted, provided that all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The receptacles are permanently attached to the equipment assembly.

(2)* The sum of the ampacity of all appliances connected to the outlets does not exceed 75 percent of the ampacity of the flexible cord supplying the outlets.

(3) The ampacity of the flexible cord is in accordance with NFPA 70, National Electrical Code.

(4)* The electrical and mechanical integrity of the assembly is regularly verified and documented.

(5)* Means are employed to ensure that additional devices or nonmedical equipment cannot be connected to the multiple outlet extension cord after leakage currents have been verified as safe.
 
This is what we do.
ASHE Deputy Executive Director Chad Beebe stated at the recently-concluded ASHE Annual Conference that ASHE is working with CMS and others to attempt to convince CMS to issue a categorical waiver that reflects the language of NFPA 99-2012. Whether or not CMS issues the sought-after categorical waiver, the following language in NFPA 99-2012 paragraph 10.2.3.6 (Multiple Outlet Connection) may become official for survey purposes in the future if CMS adopts NFPA 99-2012 as it has indicated it intends to do. The 2012 NFPA 99 requirements, which may still be more restrictive than many hospitals currently practice, state:

Two or more power receptacles supplied by a flexible cord shall be permitted to be used to supply power to plug-connected components of a movable equipment assembly that is rack-, table-, pedestal-, or cart-mounted, provided that all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The receptacles are permanently attached to the equipment assembly.

(2)* The sum of the ampacity of all appliances connected to the outlets does not exceed 75 percent of the ampacity of the flexible cord supplying the outlets.

(3) The ampacity of the flexible cord is in accordance with NFPA 70, National Electrical Code.

(4)* The electrical and mechanical integrity of the assembly is regularly verified and documented.

(5)* Means are employed to ensure that additional devices or nonmedical equipment cannot be connected to the multiple outlet extension cord after leakage currents have been verified as safe.


Thank you. Our hospital's Quality Management Director (who oversees Patient Safety, Risk Management, and Joint Commission readiness) sent that ASHE announcement to department heads today just as an FYI, asking for everyone's feedback on how to address it. We're in the window for a JC inspection.
 
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We just hide the strips. In the window for JC as well (within next 5 weeks).

When that CMS ruling came down, we were told all strips were banned. We have very new, large ORs that, without the power strips, left a jungle gym of wires hanging in our work space to booms overhead. A few folks almost knocked themselves out by tripping. Administration/OR leadership after a couple weeks decided that an employee injury would be worse than having a few strips around.
 
This is quite humorous... we were just told that, because of some JC proclamation, extension cords are unsafe. They've all disappeared and have been replaced by....powerstrips mounted on Bovie carts and backs of gas machines.
 
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