Environment of Care (EC) (Critical Access Hospitals / Critical Access Hospitals)
Medical Equipment - Blanket Temperature Risk Assessment
Publish | January 01, 0001
What standards apply to the requirement for organizations to maintain blanket temperatures?
The Joint Commission standards are not prescriptive with regard to blanket temperature, unless the organization's controlling authority for health care operations has requirements. The organization is to have an effective process in place to manage blanket temperatures for the purpose used. As indicated by EC.02.01.01, the hospital should identify safety risks associated with blanket warmer use, then take action to minimize or eliminate those risks. Different applications for different types patients in different conditions likely will require different blanket temperatures. Some form of temperature validation test (for example, by touch or thermometer) is needed before a blanket is used by a patient. There is to be a policy that establishes safe criteria for evaluating and applying warm blankets, and staff that apply blankets are to know that criteria. Staff knowledge should include the effects of temperature and contact duration of blankets applied directly to the skin regardless of whether the blanket is intended to contact the skin directly. The policy and implementation should be periodically assessed for effectiveness and safety. Blanket warming equipment should be maintained in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations or an effective alternate equipment maintenance strategy. [EC.02.01.01]
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