Nebraska's Revered Strategy in Handling Product Recalls for Children's Items Wins Accolades
In a commendable display of proactive healthcare safety, Children's Nebraska has been honoured with ECRI's 2024 Recall Management Award. This recognition comes in the wake of the hospital's swift and effective response to a critical safety threat posed by a defective endotracheal tube product.
The story begins with an urgent alert from ECRI about a potential defect in Teleflex endotracheal tube products. Upon receiving the notification, Children's Nebraska acted immediately to safeguard patient safety. The hospital's internal policy required all critical alerts to be investigated and addressed within one business day, and Children's Nebraska met this requirement without delay.
The hospital's Value Analysis team, in collaboration with suppliers and clinicians, identified suitable product substitutes one month before the broader FDA recall was announced. This proactive approach minimized supply disruption and ensured continued patient care without delay.
Children's Nebraska utilised ECRI's Recall Management System for rapid distribution of critical information and documentation. The hospital's success story highlights the vital role of a robust, technology-driven recall management system. The system enabled immediate, coordinated communication among six departments: Operating Room, Outpatient Surgery, Anesthesia, Education, Strategic Analysis, and Value Analysis.
The alert identified a serious risk: the 15 mm connector could detach from the endotracheal tube, potentially leading to oxygen desaturation and long-term harm to patients. Real-time tracking allowed teams to address the issue efficiently and ensure minimal disruption to patient care.
Children's Nebraska used ECRI's Recall Management Automatch tool to identify endotracheal tube products impacted by the alert. Automatch cross-referenced the affected items with the hospital's inventory, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual review of purchase order records. This enabled the team to quickly pinpoint, isolate, and discontinue use of the defective products.
The hospital's swift action was necessary due to the potential serious risks associated with the defective endotracheal tube products. Children's Nebraska ensured a prompt and effective response to a critical safety threat by using the Recall Management Automatch tool. This proactive approach, strong internal protocols, and unwavering commitment to patient safety earned them ECRI's 2024 Recall Management Award.
The award recognizes Children's Nebraska's leadership in healthcare safety and efficiency. This recognition serves as a testament to the hospital's dedication to ensuring the highest standards of patient care and safety.
