Sheldon S. Sones, RPh, FASCP, is president of Sheldon S. Sones and Associates, a pharmacy and accreditation consulting firm based in Newington, Conn.
Q: We've heard that the extra locks to the code carts should not be stored in the carts or in a drawer for easy access. Why?
Sheldon Sones: Most surveyors correctly feel that the purpose of the breakable locks is not security as much as it is a "signal" that the code cart contents are up to date as well as up to par against the code cart "list."
Anecdotal stories reveal that, for convenience, it has occurred that something is removed and the cart is relocked using easily-accessible locks, only to be unavailable during a true emergency. Moreover, a code cart event should and would be an occurrence that the clinical director/director of nursing is aware of.
Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!
Thus, it is recommended that spare locks be maintained under the control of a nursing leader (clinical director/director of nursing/PACU manager) and not within the cart or an easily accessible drawer or cabinet.
Learn more about Sheldon S. Sones and Associates at www.sheldonsones.com.
More Articles Featuring Sheldon Sones:
10 Things I Would Do Now If I Was Preparing for a Survey
Proper Format for Drug Formulary