J U LY 2 0 1 6 O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T 2 5
CMS data show that lack of
malignant hyperthermia
readiness is a persistent
problem, according to a
recent article in the
American Journal of Health-
System Pharmacy
(osmag.net/hchzm6).
Specifically, the data show that inspectors have cited various hospitals for inade-
quacies in staff training, reflected, by among other things, the inability of staff to
find dantrolene quickly enough.
In fact, most problems cited by inspectors involve failing to have enough
dantrolene on hand or failing to adequately train staff to find and administer the
drug. CMS doesn't tell its surveyors how to assess MH preparedness, but it
expects facilities to follow "current accepted standards of practice." The
Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS) recommends
that dantrolene be accessible within 10 minutes once a decision is made to treat
a patient.
The report notes that facilities shouldn't be surprised if inspectors measure
the distance between their MH carts and any areas where succinylcholine is
administered to ensure that they aren't too far apart, or time whether a mock
MH case could be treated in the recommended time frame.
— Jim Burger
THE BIG QUESTION
Do You Know Where
Your Dantrolene Is Stored?
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
