New CMS Regulation Allows Unlocked Anesthesia Carts in Secure Areas
Chicago —
(November 27, 2006)
A new rule, effective Jan. 26, 2007, permits anesthesia carts to be unlocked as long as they are in a “secure area” such as an operating suite. Anesthesiologists and their hospitals have long been frustrated by a federal regulation, enforced by JCAHO, requiring anesthesia carts to be locked between cases whenever “authorized personnel” are not present in the room.
ASA has worked hard for several years to persuade CMS to recognize that locked carts create danger for patients when access to critical medications is barred, and that they do not protect against any real danger. In March 2005, ASA wrote a comment letter to CMS strongly supporting a proposed new regulation that would allow anesthesia carts to remain unlocked. Many ASA members submitted their own letters as well.
We are very pleased that CMS’ revised regulation, published in the Nov. 27, 2006
Federal Register, includes the changes we sought and will permit anesthesia drugs and reversal agents to remain in unlocked anesthesia carts in secure areas, including staffed ORs, critical care units and labor and delivery suites.
The CMS rewrite of the regulation removes a serious patient safety risk. Requiring locked anesthesia carts could potentially cost precious seconds—or more—when anesthesiologists must treat their patients in emergency situations.
The final rule does not affect Schedule II, III, IV and V drugs, which must still be kept in locked storage areas, also as urged by ASA.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
Anesthesiologists: Physicians providing the lifeline of modern medicine. Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists is an educational, research and scientific association with 46,000 members organized to raise and maintain the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology and improve the care of the patient.
For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists Web site at www.asahq.org. For patient information, visit LifeLineToModernMedicine.com
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