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 Volume 2, Issue 4 © 2001 Medical Gas Management, LLC |
Main IndexIN THIS ISSUE |
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| BOC Gases Fabrication Trailer |
| A BOC Gases temporary Medical Oxygen Supply System. |
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Medical Gas Management, LLC
If you
have not seen activity at your Oxygen bulk site or your source of supply
has not been inspected for compliance to NFPA 50, you may want to read on
and take note.
We have been inspecting Oxygen supply systems for over ten years
and found them in various states of disrepair and non-compliance to any
Standard. It appears that if the supplier was not forced to comply with
the Standard, very little attention was given to the detail of insuring
the system was working properly and met the minimum Standard.
Common problems with Bulk Oxygen supply include leaks, liquid
level gauges that did not report to master alarm, vessels not bolted to
the pad, main line regulators not duplexed, reserve supply being emptied
before the main tank, pressure relief valve not working or incorrectly
rated, improperly sized tanks, vaporizers and regulators. Other problems
encountered are distances from liquid tank to various hazardous fuel,
electrical lines, and little or no protection for the bulk site from
moving vehicles.
It was not hard to understand that the hospital considers this
condition someone else’s problem and for years we all waited for
someone to take charge. Then as a result of several safety related
incidents, the FDA started to review the Standard policy and procedures
for suppliers.
As we watched from our vantage point, we saw activity of
different degrees but one company stood out with a posture of not just
complying with the minimum Standard, but rather taking liquid Oxygen bulk
sites to a new and higher level. BOC Gases of Murray Hill, New Jersey
has managed to set a Standard, make a substantial financial commitment,
and gather the highest technically qualified installation teams in the
country. Additionally, equipping regional branches with mobile trailers
for temporary oxygen supply, and state-of-the-art, mobile, self-contained
fabrication shop trailers has pushed BOC Gases to the top level in their
industry.
One look at this organization’s leadership in healthcare
gives me confidence that medical facilities are in good, capable hands.
Congratulations BOC Gases!
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Medical Gases–A Commodity or A Drug?
Jan
SzijartoIn the healthcare industry, when someone says the word “drug” we generally think of a capsule or a pill, a liquid medication or an injection. In other words, a dose of a prescribed substance intended to restore health to the body.
What about Medical Gases? Certainly when you see a bulk oxygen site or gas container at a hospital, the term “drug” doesn’t usually come to mind. Perhaps it is the volume at which gases are stored that causes us to think of them as commodities instead of drugs.
In fact, Medical Gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, nitrous oxide and medical grade compressed air are defined as “pharmaceutical drugs” when used for therapeutic treatment of a patient. The most prescribed drug in the world is oxygen!
Likewise, the storage tank, source equipment, medical piping and outlets make up the drug delivery system. The integrity of this equipment is vital. It is important that gas suppliers, equipment manufacturers and those who design, install and maintain medical gas systems recognize that their products and delivery mechanisms have a profound impact on the treatment of patients.
Organizations like the U. S. Food and Drug Administration, National Fire Protection Association and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations are perhaps the most well-known regulatory agencies establishing standards for the medical gas
industry. Other organizations are interested as well.
To provide the products and systems necessary to support life, professionals in the medical gas industry must continue to educate themselves to changes in regulations and standards.
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Medical Gas Installer's School
Our next
medical gas Installer’s school is scheduled for May 16 – 18,
2001 at the MGM Education Center in Bethany, OK. For information call:
(800) 732-9035 or register online at www.mgmusa.com.BACK
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ISO
Meets at MGM Offices
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Delegates to the International Standards Organization for Anesthesia and Respiratory Equipment, Medical Gas Systems met at the MGM offices the week of February 19, 2001. Representatives from Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States participated in the conference. The delegates met the Honorable Frank Keating (3rd from left), Governor of Oklahoma during their visit.
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New
Faces at MGM
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Two new employees who joined our technical staff in recent months are: |
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Terry Harris |
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Richard Littleton MGM Technician 11/27/00 Beavercreek, OH |
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If you looking for a challenging and exciting career in the field of medical gas systems, check our employment listing on the web: www.mgmusa.com/Pages/employment.html |
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MGPHO
NOTES
From
time to time the Medical Gas Professional Healthcare Organization is
mentioned in this publication. For those readers who may not be familiar
with the group, we present a brief history of the organization, its goals
and membership.
In December 1997, thirty-eight individuals met to discuss the
merits of a professional organization with a common goal of establishing
standards for materials, installation and testing to assure safety and
reliability of medical gas and vacuum systems. Because of the positive
interest generated, the group met again in May 1998 to formalize their
plans for the organization. The group selected September 28, 1998 as the
date, and Oklahoma City as the site of the first official meeting of the
Medical Gas Professional Healthcare Organization.
The group meets semi-annually at various locations across the
U.S. to evaluate the needs of the medical gas industry and to consider
areas in which they can take the industry to a higher level of
professionalism.
Membership includes professional technicians, manufacturers,
equipment suppliers, medical gas suppliers, and others interested in the
integrity of medical gas systems. Annual dues are assessed at $150.00
for individuals and $300.00 for Associate and Corporate members.
A significant accomplishment of the organization is the
establishment of the MGPHO Credentialed Verifier. Members, who meet
certain pre-requisite qualifications, complete an examination to assess
their ability to properly inspect, test and thereby certify a medical gas
system following new construction, additions or remodeling of healthcare
facilities.
Medical Gas Professional Healthcare Organization is a non-profit
organization incorporated in the State of Kansas.
For more information on MGPHO and Verifier Examination, visit
their website at www.mgpho.org.
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Beyond
The Walls…
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Aaahhhhh Spring! The birds are
singing, the grass is starting to green, and flowers push their little
heads through the earth to greet the sun. In this garden, the facility
appears to be growing an Oxygen and a Nitrogen line as well.
These lines started at the bulk site, and were properly encased
in PCV pipe before being buried. However, the piping was unprotected as
it came from the ground and entered the facility. Rainwater and surface
debris collected in the exposed encasement. MGM was called in when a
gardener, using a metal bladed weed-eater, accidentally cut the Oxygen
line.
To protect the lines, an elbow
was installed from the surface PVC encasement to the building
wall in accordance with NFPA 99, 1999 4-3.1.2.9 Piping
Installation.