The Joint Commission is urging ambulatory care provides to take extra precautions to ensure that they aren't reusing the single-use portion of blood glucose monitoring devices.
Here's what you should know:
1. Over the last decade, there have been at least 15 confirmed outbreaks of hepatitis B from providers reusing lancets, finger-stick devices and glucometers.
2. The CDC has seen an uptick in infections caused by such devices.
3. Reusing lancets, finger-stick devices and manufacturer-stated single patient use blood glucose meters is prohibited by CMS and the FDA.
For more information and five steps your organization can implement to prevent such incidents from happening, click here.
