The CQC has strict guidelines relating to how care homes must store vaccines medicines. This places an added but essential burden on care home staff. Colin Burgess, Senior Technical Manager for refrigeration specialists Lec Medical, outlines the procedures care homes must follow and explains how refrigeration technology can take the pressure off busy care home staff.
The CQC requirements relating to vaccines and medicines are understandably stringent.
Vaccines and a number of medicines administered in nursing homes – such as insulins, cancer drugs, antibiotic liquids and some pharmaceutical creams – are considered ‘cold chain’ products.
They contain active chemicals which can change in molecular form when exposed to temperatures which are too high or too low, with potentially damaging consequences. For example, a vaccine stored outside its recommended temperature will biodegrade more quickly, making it less effective and potentially putting patients at risk.
As a result, these products must be stored in a medical refrigerator within a temperature range of +2ºC and +8ºC at all times.
The CQC gives clear guidance on how temperatures should be monitored and recorded to ensure they are kept within the safe temperature range.
This includes:
This daily monitoring and recording is an essential task, but it is also a labour and time intensive one, which can be quite onerous for staff members who must often fit it in among a raft of other responsibilities. Human error can creep into reporting procedures, while simple actions such as leaving the fridge door open for too long can also inadvertently increase fridge temperatures.
The CQC also stresses the need to use a medical fridge that is capable of maintaining the correct temperature for the medicines being stored. It warns: “Some fridges are advertised as ‘medicines fridges’ but they may maintain temperatures in ranges that are too low or too high.”
For care home managers wanting to ensure they comply with CQC guidelines, keep their residents safe and support dedicated but busy staff, a modern medical refrigerator is the only advisable option.
Advanced medical fridges such as Lec’s Pharmacy Plus range remove any risk of incorrect medicines storage.
They have inbuilt technology which not only ensures vaccines and medicines are stored within a stable temperature range, but also removes the risk of human error when it comes to monitoring and recording temperatures.
The fridges employ Bluetooth technology to enable local temperature monitoring and recording. Data can be downloaded directly to a phone or tablet and shared with approved personnel directly, via an app.
This means staff no longer need to take temperatures manually and record fridge temperatures manually every time – freeing them up for other important care work.
Digital temperature monitoring is also far more accurate. Lec Medical has developed dual air and load probes to deliver the pinpoint temperature measurement which is so important to the safe storage of sensitive vaccines and medicines.
For example, the first probe monitors the internal air temperature of the fridge, while a second probe sits within a silicon oil formulated to mimic the medical products stored inside it. It means the temperature of the actual vaccine or medicine is monitored – not just the fridge temperature.
If there are any power outages or a door is left open, the data will show if the fridge contents have fallen outside the recommended temperature ranges at any point.
Additionally, an intelligent fan management system prevents warm air being drawn in when the fridge door is open and automatically restarts when it closes, ensuring temperatures remain stable at all times.
A visual and audible power failure alarm, with battery back-up and data retention, adds an extra level of safety.
There are some other simple measures care homes can take to ensure their medicines fridge operates at the highest level of efficiency:
The cost of a medical fridge need not be prohibitive. They are available in capacity levels ranging from a compact 47 litres to a spacious 400 litres, with under-counter, over-counter and free standing options.
Care home residents are among the most vulnerable in society. By ensuring the vaccines and medicines are stored correctly can play a huge role in ensuring their health is protected and busy staff and supported.
Please visit https://www.lec-medical.co.uk/en-gb to find out more.
