Recent findings during accreditation assessments uncovered several deficiencies in emergency carts, including expired medications and medical supplies, missing laryngoscope blades and handles, oxygen tanks with no regulator and nipple attached, and outdated Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) algorithms.
Medical directors of non-hospital medical and surgical facilities are reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure emergency carts are checked each surgical day prior to the first case of the day. Emergency cart logs must list all of the medications and equipment required (appropriate to facility class), confirm that each required item is present, and be signed by the regulated health professional performing the check. In addition, the duty of checking the emergency cart is to be rotated among all staff in accordance with the Non-Hospital Medical and Surgical Facilities Accreditation Program (NHMSFAP) Emergency Preparedness standard.
Note: Any deficiencies found by the NHMSFAP pertaining to the emergency cart may result in a change to the term of accreditation and/or an administrative penalty.