June 9, 2000

As part of the MGH's ongoing commitment to providing a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors, the task force that focuses on needlestick injury prevention is launching a new needle safety initiative.

According to Elisha (Skip) Atkins, MD, chair of the Needlestick Reduction Task Force, several new medical products with integrated safety features will be introduced hospitalwide during the next few months to help reduce the risk of injuries to clinicians who use them. The task force also has identified some devices for which additional education is required to ensure proper use.

"Safety is always a top priority at the hospital," says Atkins. "To give the best protection to our employees while they provide care to patients, we are introducing some newer and safer products. We will work closely with clinicians to evaluate other new options and to find and implement the safest work practices."

According to recent data collected from 60 U.S. hospitals by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year hospital workers suffer approximately 384,325 needlestick and other sharp instrument-related injuries. These mishaps may occur during the use or disposal of hypodermic needles, blood collection needles, intravenous (IV) stylets and other sharp devices such as suture needles, lancets and scalpels. At the MGH, the number of injuries has fallen with the introduction of devices with features such as plastic sleeves that cover the needles after use. However, the task force continues to evaluate new designs to keep up with the best available technology.

According to Atkins, a safety version of the Intima IV catheter will be introduced beginning in June, and users will be retrained in the use of the safety butterfly needle. Shielded versions of other IV catheters, lancets and TB and insulin syringes will be evaluated and introduced later in the summer and early fall.

For more information about preventing needlestick injuries, call Atkins at 6-2217 or 889-8580.