russell S. nassof, Juris Doctorate: CIVCO Medical solutions: Speaker's Bureau (Ongoing)
While ultrasound may be the most widely used imaging tool utilized in healthcare today, its use is not without problems. Probe disinfection, contaminated ultrasound gel and issues with probe covers have resulted in conflicting opinions, outbreaks, litigation and clinician liability. This presentation will review the contentious issue of probe disinfection (HLD vs LLD) including the positions of various organizations (including AVA) from a legal standpoint and will then go on to focus on the issue of contaminated ultrasound gel responsible for numerous infection outbreaks. Product liability claims from contaminated gel may subject the clinician to legal action WITHOUT negligence and WITHOUT physical injury to the patient and recent infection outbreaks will be discussed which highlight this exposure. Issues surrounding probe cover use, failure, and sterility can also subject a clinician to liability. This presentation will review those risks along with identifying innovations and strategies to mitigate adverse events and liability for these components of ultrasound usage.
Learning Objectives:
DISCUSS the evolving use of ultrasound in vascular access procedures.
IDENTIFY liability risk factors associated with ultrasound gel and the failure to use single use sterile probe covers.
DISCUSS the legal, reputational, and financial risks to healthcare providers resulting from outbreaks of contaminated ultrasound components and gel.
CONSIDER risk and liability minimization strategies that should be utilized with ultrasound.
