Original Article

A Quality Assurance Program for Perfusion

Extracorporeal Techologies, Inc., Indianapolis, IN

^* Direct communications to: B.A. Winn, B.S., C.C.T., Extracorporeal Technologies, Inc., 9517 Valparaiso Court, Indianapolis, IN 46268-1130

Abstract

The Quality Assurance Program for Perfusion (QAPP) is designed to minimize injury to a cardiac patient through risk management.

The QAPP is a flexible manual that includes guidelines for managing human resources and contains several universal forms for use in documenting pre-pump patient status, equipment maintenance, durable and disposable equipment and justification for their use, product failure CPB procedural audits, and staff development. The QAPP contains tables outlining the risks, hazards and accidents associated with ECC equipment; protocols for routine ECC preparation; special and emergency CPB procedures; and an extensive bibliography.

The periodic audit of the QAPP contents will allow common team knowledge of protocols and physicians' orders to meet hospital accrediting body requirements and to reduce risks and hazards associated with ECC.