Comprehensive Cardiology Practice Safety Protocols

1. Patient Safety Measures

Emergency Response

• Crash cart location and maintenance protocols
• Code blue response procedures
• AED accessibility and testing schedule
• Emergency medication inventory requirements

Clinical Safety

• Patient identification protocol (minimum 2 identifiers)
• Fall risk assessment procedures
• Radiation safety protocols for cardiac imaging
• Contrast media safety guidelines

2. Procedural Safety

Pre-procedure

• Timeout protocol implementation
• Informed consent verification
• Site marking requirements
• Medication reconciliation
• NPO status verification

During Procedure

• Sterile technique maintenance
• Vital signs monitoring parameters
• Radiation exposure monitoring
• Equipment safety checks

Post-procedure

• Recovery monitoring guidelines
• Discharge criteria checklist
• Follow-up instructions protocol

3. Infection Control

Standard Precautions

• Hand hygiene protocols
• PPE requirements
• Sharps handling and disposal
• Blood and body fluid exposure protocols

Equipment Sterilization

• Sterilization procedures for cardiac instruments
• Documentation requirements
• Quality control measures

4. Staff Safety

Occupational Safety

• Radiation protection guidelines
• Ergonomic requirements
• Chemical hazard protection
• Workplace violence prevention

Training Requirements

• Annual safety certification schedule
• ACLS/BLS maintenance
• Radiation safety training
• Emergency response drills

5. Documentation Requirements

Safety Events

• Incident reporting procedures
• Near-miss documentation
• Root cause analysis protocol
• Corrective action documentation

Quality Metrics

• Safety checklist completion rates
• Infection rates monitoring
• Adverse event tracking
• Patient satisfaction metrics