Clinical Information Flashcards
What are the standards of proficiency for the HCPC?
Practice safely and effectively within their scope of practice.
Practice with in the legal and ethical boundaries
Maintain own health and wellbeing
Work automously using their own judgement
Practice inclusive, recognising culture, equality and diversity
Understand the importance of confidentiality.
Communicate effectively
Work appropriately with others.
Maintain records appropriately.
Reflect and review practice.
Assure the quality of their practice.
Understand and apply the key concepts of the knowledge base relevant to their work.
Draw on appropriate knowledge and skills to inform practice.
Have a safe practice environment.
Promote health and prevent ill health
What is clinical governance?
A framework which makes the NHS accountable for continually improving the quality of service and safeguarding high standards of care. Creating an environment where excellence in critical care can flourish.
What does clinical governance consider?
Safety, quality and effectiveness.
What is required in order for clinical governance to be effective?
Robust national and local systems, quality improvement and a learning culture.
What does CQC stand for?
Care Quality Commission
What is the CQC?
An independant regulator of health and social care in England.
Who do the CQC assess?
Care homes, hospitals, dental services, Clinics, home care agencies, GP services, mental health and community care.
Under the CQC, what does everyone have a right to?
Care that is tailored to your needs and preferences, allowed visitors, dignity and respect, consent, safety, safeguarding from abuse, food and drink, complaint procedures, proper and fit staff and duty of candour.
What do the CQC consider?
That the provider is Safe, Caring, responsive to people’s needs, Effective in their care and Well-lead. SCREW
What does everyone have a right to under the health and safety act?
A safe working environment, with controlled risks.
What does the health and safety act consider?
Safety and systems
Maintained equipment
Storage of materials
Handling of materials
Use of materials
Transportation of materials
Risk assessments
Who is able to serve notices and prosecute under the health and safety act?
Health and safety executive
Local authorities
What are an employers duties under the health and safety act?
Decide what can cause harm
Install precautions
Explain the risks
Co-operate with the HSE
Give training
Supply and maintain PPE
Supply water
Supply toilets
Supply first aid
Report serious injuries
What are an employees duties under the health and safety act?
Follow training
Responsible for everyone
Co-operate with their employer
Inform employers of risks
What does COSHH stand for?
Control of substances hazardous to health
How can you prevent or reduce exposure?
Identify the hazard
Identify how to prevent it
Provide control measures
Ensure there is compliance
Train and educate
Monitor exposure
Have emergency plans in place
What control measures can be used to reduce or remove risks?
Eliminate the need
Safer versions
Change the process
Enclose emissions
Extract emissions
Reduce staff levels
PPE
Specialist equipment
Maintain equipment
Adequate cleaning
Manage risks
Adequate disposal
Give five ways in which ecposure can occur, I relation to COSHH?
Breathing
Skin contact
Swallowing
Contact with eyes
Skin puncture
When looking at the COSHH of a new chemical or process, what should you consider?
What is harmful
How is it harmful
Can the risk be reduced
Alternatives
Reduce exposure
Is it essential
Local exhaust ventilation
What does PPE stand for?
Personal protective equipment
What does LEV stand for?
Local exhaust ventilation
What does WEL stand for?
Workplace exposure limits
What is the WEL of formalin?
2ppm over 8 hrs
2ppm over 10 mins
What does RIDDOR stand for?
Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrances regulations
Under RIDDOR what must employers do?
Recort incidents and near misses that involve employees, visitors and the public
Under RIDDOR what events need recording?
Death
Accidents that result in death
Accidents that result in 7days + abscence
Accidents that result in hospitalisation
Illness caused by hazards as work
Occurances that are not reportable but have the potential to cause serious harm
What information should be in a RIDDOR report?
Date
Time
Plaxe
Nature of event
People involved
Injury
Description of the event
If an event leads to loss of work that is >3 days but <7, what should employers do?
Record the details but it doesn’t need reporting
How long are RIDDOR records kept?
3 years
How does RIDDOR help organisations?
Allows patterns to be seen
How events occur
Helps find preventative or reductive measures
Give 8 examples of events reportable under RIDDOR?
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Occupational dermatitis
Occupational asthma
Sharp injuries contaminated with Hep B, C and HIV
Fractures
Amputation
Loss of sight
Mesothelioma
Loss of consciousness
Give 2 examples of event not reportable under RIDDOR?
Suicide
Self harm
What is the purpose of fixatives?
Prevent autolysis and purification whilst preserving clear and consistent morphology.
What is an occupational exposure limit
The maximum allowance of an airborne concentration of a reagent over a set time, that an employee can be exposed to.
What kind of disposal is require?
Specialist
What hazards can be found with fixatives?
Severe eye and skin irritants
Toxic by inhalation
Carcinogens
Corrosive to most metals
Safety signs - what does a circle with a diagonal line through it, usually red mean?
Prohibited
Safety signs - what does a yellow triangle mean?
Warning
Safety signs - what does a sign that states a specific behaviour mean? Often blue
Mandatory behaviour
Safety signs - what do emergency signs look like?
Often green examples are first aid or fire exit.
What is the aim of PPE?
Protects users and reduces risks from:
Particles
Gases
Falling objects
Splashes
Contact with eyes/skin
Sharps
Extreme temperature
How do you know if PPE meats the required standard?
It is CE marked
If wearing more than one item of PPE what is important?
They must work together
Important considerations for PPE?
Staff should be trained in their use
They require maintaining or replacing regularly
What PPE is regularly used within a Histology lab? 8 items
Lab coats
Gloves
Safety glasses
Apron
Respirator
Insulated gloves
Ear protection
Wellington boots
What are the universal precautions for specimens?
Treat all specimens the same
Avoid sharps
Cover wounds
Wear PPE
Use fixatives to reduce the risk of infection
How long should high risk specimens be left to fix?
At least 24 hours (CJD is always high risk - sent to specialist centre)
What can chemicals harm?
Employees and the environment
How long does it take for a chemical to cause harm?
It depends on the chemical, some are immediate whilst others increase with prolonged exposure
Give two examples of a disease caused by exposure to carcinogens/mutagens/biological agents
Nasal cavity cancer - caused by wood dust
Mesothelioma - caused by asbestos
What is the hierarchy of control?
Substitute
Control exposure
Local ventilation
General ventilation
Good housekeeping
Limit exposure
Training
PPE
Good welfare facilities
Health surveillance
What are the minimum requirements for ID checks?
Specimens must have a request
At least 2 matching identifiers
Specimen types must match
Specimen orientation must match
Specimen numbers must match
Give 5 events that should have an incident log made ?
Miss matched specimen
Lost tissue
Specimen in wrong container
Spillage
Computer downtime
What are the consequences of transposing patients and samples?
Wrong patient receives treatment
Patient misses treatment
Wrong part of the patient receives treatment in paired organs
Disease continues unchecked
Psychological harm to both patients
When are checks for ID required?
Every time the specimen changes pot, cassette, slide
Upon receipt
Before being entered into the LIMS
Before being sent to the Consultant
Before being reported
What checks are needed on the specimen before dissection?
Specimen type
Number of specimens
Specimen site
Orientation
Clinical information correlation
What checks are needed on the specimen before dissection?
Specimen type
Number of specimens
Specimen site
Orientation
Clinical information correlation
There are any doubts with a specimen what should you do?
STOP
Speak with a consultant or colleague
Contact the clinician
What information should appear on a request form?
Patient identifiers
Patient demographics
Clinician details
Specimen type
Site of lesion
History of lesion
Recent changes
Previous relevant history
Clinical impressions
What are the consequences of errors in the lab?
Most specimens are irreplaceable
Missed diagnoses
Incorrect diagnoses
Missed treatments
Further invasive procedures
Further psychological distress
Unable to confirm complete excision
Where can errors occur in the lab?
Labelling errors
Miss-matched specimens
Dictation errors
Carry over
Loss of tissue
Orientation errors
Deviation from procedures
Poor processing
Oblique cuts
Under staining
Over staining
Inappropriate staining
Reporting errors
Inappropriate containers
Spillages
LIMS entry errors
How do we learn from errors made in the lab?
Understand how they occured
Assess the risk
Put in place any necessary precautions /changes
Train/educate staff
Why are errors at dissection so disruptive?
Early in the specimens journey so they stay during the remainder
Dissection is disruptive
Never see the specimen intact again
Consultants often never get to see specimen at this stage do they are relying on this stage for a lot of information
Why are Histology samples important to healthcare?
Allows for visualisation of tissue structure and changes that have occured.
Can be used in diagnosis, research, autopsy or forensic investigation
What factors contribute to errors?
Untidyness
Lack of concentration
Noise
High/low workloads
Poor handwriting
Poor handover
No secondary checks
Solo working
Lack of training
What steps should you take with sharps?
Assess the risk
Provide adequate training
Are they necessary
Alternatives that don’t compromise patient care
Easy to use
Controls on the procedure
Precautions
Monitor and maintain
Safe storage
Safe disposal
What steps should you take with sharps?
Assess the risk
Provide adequate training
Are they necessary
Alternatives that don’t compromise patient care
Easy to use
Controls on the procedure
Precautions
Monitor and maintain
Safe storage
Safe disposal
What first aid steps are taken following a sharps injury?
Never suck the would
Make the wound bleed
Rinse thoroughly
Cover
Seek treatment if needed
What is the aim of cleaning?
To remove foreign material
What is the aim of cleaning?
To remove foreign material
Is the aim of disinfectant?
To destroy microorganisms (not usually spores) on inanimate surfaces and objects
What is the aim of sterilisation?
To destroy all organisms on a surface
What do you do in the event of a reagent spillage (not formalin)?
Shut of sources of ignition
Respirator use
Spillages absorption granules
Open windows
Signage to prevent entry
Allow dispersal of fumes
Sweep up granules
Safely dispose of granules
Clean area
Monitor WELs
What do you do in the event of a formal spillage?
If >50mls evacuate immediately
Signage to prevent entry
PPE and Respirator
Formalin control granules, start at edge and work inwards
Ventilate area
Sweep up
Safely dispose
Clean area
Monitor WELs
What does a safety cabinet - class I do?
Protects against aerosol release
How does a safety cabinet - class I work?
Air drawn through the front, over the working area, through a HEPA filter, to a duct outside.
What does a safety cabinet - class II do?
Protects the samples from contamination, not the operator
How does a safety cabinet - class II work?
Recirculates the air
Filters the air
What is the aim of LEV?
To carry away particles etc before they can be inhaled
Ventilation must be…?
Fit for purpose
Maintained
Operated by fully trained staff
Used when a hazard cannot be removed, substituted, or the exposure time cannot be reduced