Section 340.2050  Equipment and Supplies

a)         There shall be an adequate supply of nursing equipment to meet the needs of the residents.

b)         There shall be a sufficient quantity of resident care equipment of satisfactory design and in good condition to meet each resident's needs.

c)         A sufficient quantity of suction machines shall be provided to meet the needs of all residents who need suctioning.

d)         According to the resident's needs, the facility shall assist the resident in obtaining special equipment for an individual resident's exclusive use.

e)         There shall be a first-aid kit or emergency box in every facility.  This shall contain bandages, sterile gauze dressing, bandage scissors, tape, sling, burn ointment, and other equipment deemed necessary by the advisory physician or the medical advisory committee.

f)         Every facility shall follow an acceptable plan to provide for sterile equipment and supplies, such as needles, syringes, catheters, and dressings, such as:

1)         Use of an autoclave located in a central sterilization area, clean utility area, or nurses' station.

2)         Use of individually wrapped sterile dressing, disposable syringes, needles, catheters, and gloves, which shall be disposed of after a single use.

3)         Formal plan with another facility for the autoclaving of equipment and supplies.

4)         Other alternative methods when approved on an individual basis in writing from the Department based on a written request from the facility, giving in detail the method proposed to be used and which method meets equivalent criteria for proper sterilization for these items to be sterilized.

g)         Every facility shall sanitize bed pans, urinals, wash basins, emesis basins, enema equipment, and similar patient care utensils as follows:

1)         Individual bedpans, urinals, wash basins, and similar equipment shall be washed and rinsed after each use, and be sanitized at least weekly.  If individual equipment is not provided, the equipment shall be washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use.

2)         Utensils shall be pre-flushed prior to washing.  Utensils shall be washed in a hot detergent solution that is maintained clean.  After washing, utensils shall be rinsed free of detergents with clean water.

3)         Utensils shall be sanitized, either mechanically or manually, through the use of steam, hot water, or chemicals approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, formulated for the sanitization of patient care utensils, and shall be used in accordance with label instructions.

4)         Patient care utensil sanitization shall be completed in the soiled utility room.