When we first built our USP797 compliant cleanroom back 3 years ago, we began using hospital laundered scrubs - such as those used by the surgery department. It was quickly noticed that our department was using an huge number of scrubs all of a sudden and the hospital clamped down on our use of them. Since there was no language in the chapter at that time that indicated the need for cleanroom laundered scrubs, the powers that be at our facility deemed it unnecessary for us to use specially laundered hospital scrubs. So everyone who works in the cleanroom now wears their own scrubs in from home and launders them at home as well. Recently, technicians have told me that we are "the only hospital in the city that doesn't use hospital laundered scrubs". Just wondering what everyone else out there is doing and of course, what Eric's take is on this. Personally, I think wearing scrubs in from home is not a good idea, because who knows what particulates they are bringing in? Thanks! Amy Richards
I agree with you that wearing scrubs from home defeats the purpose of wearing garb that should be less particle-laden and "contaminated". If employees launder their own scrubs, they should change into them after they arrive at work.
Our facility launders our own scrubs in house. The technicians are not allowed to take them home. In order to prevent or deter "disappearance" of scrubs, they are required to sign out their scrubs and then after their shift sign them back in. If they are not signed in, they are charged for the pair. Keeping scrubs in-house is critically important to help maintain sterility, especially after having put forth the expense to build our 797 compliant clean room.
I find it disturbing that the pharmacy is relegated to second class status. How many MDs and RNs are told to wash their own scrubs. There is also a problem of bringing contaminated garments into one's home. Chemo spill anyone? So, there sits the contaminated garment in the laundry pile for children and pets to play in. This is an unacceptable policy instituted by the administration of the hospital. Perhaps OSHA could intervene.
Do you allow Pharmacists and techs, wearing scrubs that are hospital laundered and put on in the department, to wear those scrubs when they go into patient care areas to deliver IVs and then return to the clean room wearing the same scrubs?
Our pharmacists and techs in the IV room are not the ones to deliver the IV meds. However, the IV personnel when leaving the cleanroom for any reason are required to put on a lab coat over their scrubs. Since the IV personnel must wear a gown over their scrubs, personally, it does not matter that they have been to the floors with their scrubs. In reality, their exposure to body fluids, blood, or any other contaminants is lower than that of the healthcare workers directly taking care of the patient.
Carlos M Marin, RPh Lead Pharmacist/IV Room/Oncology Overlook Medical Center 99 Beauvoir Ave Summit, NJ 07901 MailBox #277 O: (908) 522-2294 F: (908) 908-522-2583 carlos.marin@atlantichealth.org
It is not a case we are treating; it is a living, palpitating, alas, too often suffering fellow creature. ~John Brown
Thank you so much for your help. We are moving from a glove-box into a clean room suite. I am finding that a new question pops up every day and, for some of them, there doesn't appear to be a clear answer.
