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Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
DD just pricked finger in box of used needles at Drs. office
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Anonymous
| OP, can you please tell us the name of your pediatrician? I would hate for this to happen to another kid, everyone should be on guard. |
Anonymous
|
NP here- who actually worked as a blood borne pathogen exposure NP for a while- the sharps container described is technically permissible per OSHA but presents a safety hazard to patients and healthcare workers. If used it should be kept in a procedure room where patient access is limited. It should also be disposed of once 2/3 full which sounds like did not happen. I think it's a good idea to document and I personally think OSHA is a good place to start. I would also try the occ health dept connected with your orthopedist as they are usually have the most expertise in this area. I am sure risk management would be interested as well. I try to discourage the use of these types of disposal containers but folks are resistant for reasons of convenience. An incident like this often changes minds/practices.
DH and DW, sorry that this happened and hope your DD is ok. FWIW, the most hardy of bloodborne pathogens is Hep B which your daughter is likely vaccinated against being in preschool. |
Anonymous
It did not happen in the peds office. It was an orthpedist, learn to read carefully before freaking out. |
Anonymous
| But if they just finished casting her, or were about to, it probably WAS a procedure room... |
Anonymous
| There's a reason why these boxes are often red and marked with the biohazard logo. It means danger, stay away. Unfortunately, a little one won't know that. I think you could be mad at the doctor if the child stuck herself with a dirty needle on the floor but given that she put her hand into the needle container I think it its just an unfortunate accident. Hope all the blood work comes out ok. Hugs to the little one. |
Anonymous
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OK, a one handed toddler outsmarted her father and the doctor...
Sorry but the least at fault here is the doctor's office... |
Anonymous
Thank you for this informed and thoughtful response. I would be furious, and cussing up a storm, if I were the DH (or DW) too! If an open container or sharps is permissible anywhere where patients are sitting and reviewing X-Rays, be it an Orthopod's office or anywhere else, that is A PROBLEM. OP and DH, I'm very sorry, what a nightmare, and I hope your DD is just fine, poor little one w/ first a bone break and now this, ugh! If I were you I would be reporting this to OSHA and the applicable state/fed licensing board or whatever body regulates medical office buildings/practices. I don't care what the regs permit (actually I do, in that they should be changed if they permit this practice) ... it is just NOT okay to have an open box of sharps anywhere where patients could accidentally (or purposefully!) come into direct contact w/ used needles! Ignore the nasty PPs, this is not your fault. GL and let us know how this pans out, if you would. |
Anonymous
| My guess is that the doctor had no clue they were there because a medical assistant or nurse or other doctor had accidently left them there - against protocol. |
Anonymous
| This is on the most laughable thread... |
Anonymous
Yep, the poor doctor. Employing people that don't pay attention to the office protocol. |
Anonymous
|
This is OP here- just to clarify, DH only posted one post to detail exactly what happened. The cussing posts are other DCUMers that find it deplorable that there are people out there that want to blame DH for this happening- to the point of me calling CPS on him.
Those of you with eyes in the back of your head, and are able to constantly watch your child every single second to be sure that an accident NEVER happens... congraulations!- DH and I are clearly unfit parents due to our shortcomings (we don't have eyes in the back of our heads, unfortunately). I was in the emergency room with DD on Friday looking at an x-ray and didn't have my eyes on her for several seconds while the Dr. showed me the break. Sure, I could have put her in her stroller but I didn't stop at home on the way to the emergency room to get it. Sure, I could have held her while she threw a temper tantrum or talked to me thereby not allowing me to acutally LISTEN to what the doctor was saying. I'll just consider myself lucky that something didn't happen to her for those seconds I looked at the screen then down at her, then at the screen. There are a lot of Monday morning QB's on here! Lastly, my interest is in reporting the othapedic doctor's office for allowing an open container of used syringes in an examination room. Yes, there is protocal that should be followed and it didn't happen in this case, which sucks. Those of you that want to judge DH, go right ahead, you have NO idea what the future holds for you. And, yes, accidents do happen, even to the most vigilant parents. |
Anonymous
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OSHA is the wrong agency. That is to protect workers against dangerous working conditions. You need to probably call the state licensing board and report it there.
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Anonymous
Uh, you misinterpreted what I said. People were saying there was no clear violation of protocol and I was pointing out that I doubted protocol was leaving a box o' used needles on the floor. The dr. and dad probably didn't realize they were there - a medical asst, nurse, or previous dr. probably LEFT them there by accident. I wasn't defending the doctor. |
Anonymous
| i didn't read the whole thread, but I think you would want t contact JACO or JCO-- it is the joint comission on hospital accreditation. They inspect and accredit hospitals. My husband works at a hospital, and they all go nuts when JACO visits. |