Genesis Introduces Safer Needles To Protect Patients And Health Care Providers

DAVENPORT, Iowa – As a nurse attempts to recap a needle after delivering medication to a patient infected with Hepatitis C, the nurse is accidentally stuck with the infected needle.

Within months, the nurse herself is diagnosed with Hepatitis C as result of the accidental stick from the infected needle.

Genesis Health System is trying to prevent potentially dangerous accidental needlesticks to health care professionals and patients with a system-wide safety effort that will include the use of a new needle safety product.

Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus in Silvis has already been using Needle-Pro syringes from Smiths Medical.  Genesis Medical Center, Davenport, Genesis Medical Center, DeWitt, Genesis Convenient Care and the Genesis Diabetes Care Center will also implement use of the Needle-Pro syringes on June 27.

The Needle-Pro syringes have an attached plastic sheath that can be easily moved to cover the contaminated needle. Once the sheath is in place, it cannot be removed.

“Genesis has always been well ahead of other health care providers and has taken a proactive approach to needlestick use and safety.  Genesis has been well ahead of governmental mandates by continually researching and using the latest safety devices available,’’ said Julie Davis, R.N., B.S.N and chair of a needlestick safety committee at Genesis.

“Because we have been proactive about the safety of our employees and patients, Genesis has been well below the national averages as far as exposures from accidental needlesticks.

An estimated 400,000 health care professionals in the United States suffer accidental needlesticks each year.  The sticks can expose the health care workers to bloodborne viruses, including hepatitis B and C and the HIV virus.

In 2000, the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act required health care facilities to use safer devices to protect against sharps injuries.

“What is new at Genesis is that we are standardizing products so that no matter where a nurse might be working on a certain day within Genesis, the mechanism will be the same and will be familiar,’’ Davis added. “With the mechanism standardized, we will decrease the risk of injury even further for our staff.’’

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