Nova Stat Strip glucometer temperature monitoring throughout the hospital?

Good afternoon!

This happened in our hospital system some years back when the previous POC team was in role.  CAP stated, at that time via email, that the bulk supply needed to be monitored for temperature using a min/max thermometer, but that once they are scattered throughout a facility, temps no longer need to be recorded as they are considered in use and not bulk.  If you think about it...we do not even receive anything verifying the temperature of the strips when we receive them from the manufacturer.  I am definitely interested in reading about others' experience with this.  Thank you for posting this question.

Kayla,
Thanks for the input, I totally agree!
We're currently being inspected and it's come up. I think we're going to be cited for it.

Our last JCAHO inspector cited us for not monitoring in the clean supply rooms where strips are stocked. I had been monitoring temps at the nursing stations, which he said is unnecessary as they are "in use" as stated above. So I've been moving all my nodes...

I did get cited years back for temp monitoring throughout the house.  Check with your engineering department.  Our engineering department monitors all areas using a product through Siemens.  At the time of the inspection, the Director was unable to print the report.  I now get daily reports of the temperature monitoring via email.  I don't print it out, because the daily report is very large, however I now have proof that its being monitored.  In areas like the ER, where there are lots of point of care devices, I have them use the continuous wheel from health care logistics.  Once a week, they are responsible to switch out the paper, and send it to me.  

We had a CAP inspector try to cite us for this in the past, even though hospital units are only supplied with a small supply of reagents/QC (working stock). Below is what I provide CAP and TJC inspectors. Hopefully, your hospital has a department that monitors temperature/humidity in patient care areas and you could use a statement similar to this. 

In a POC setting where reagents are dispensed to patient care areas for the purpose of facilitating the provision of patient care with the provision of POC testing; hospital facilities management is required as per JC standards (EC.02.06.01 EP13) to establish and maintain "a safe, functional environment.  Note: The environment is constructed, arranged, and maintained to foster patient safety, provide facilities for diagnosis and treatment, and provide for special services appropriate to the needs of the community."  In accordance with this standard, our hospital has an automated system called Trane which ensures that all patient care area temperatures are controlled by this building automation system which respects the ASHRAE guidelines.  Trane will alarm and alert facilities when temperatures exceed the recommended temperature range set forth for optimal patient care which is a much more conservative range than what's allowed by manufacturers of POC reagents that are stored at room temperature.

Our JCAHO inspector cited WT 01.01.01 element six. 

CAP has also given us guidance that only bulk storage needs to be monitored. We have a policy that defines bulk vs. in use. Our policy says that anything over a month’s supply of strips is considered bulk. 

CAP consistently asks for our temperature and humidity records.  We make sure to take temps and humidity in all locations that have some sort of  POC testing in place and Nova might happen to be in that location as well.  We have been cited for temps/humidity in ISTAT locations - even though the device detects incorrect temps and humidity per the manufacturer, that was not enough when we got inspected.  That being said, we aren't monitoring temps & humidity in our only Nova locations simply due to time and staff.  We have some testing locations we walk around daily to take the readings, some we rely on coworkers in the locations to record it, and some have automated temperature tracking systems in place that sends us a daily email.  We hope to get to an electronic system house wide to meet the regulations.  We have heard that bulk stock detail like others have mentioned above....However, our locations order their own supplies so we have no idea how much stock an area is actually storing.