Optimizing Tube System Safety and Efficiency

To Tube or Not to Tube? 

There will always be differing opinions by hospitals as to materials they approve for transport through a pneumatic tube system. The hospital leadership team is in the best position to determine the kinds of materials that are best transported by the tube system as opposed to manual transfer. That is why it is important for leadership to get together with key individuals and develop clear guidelines for what materials are approved to be sent through the hospital tube systems. 

Two examples of highly sensitive materials that are often found on the “do not tube” list are blood and narcotics. This is understandable as many hospitals have concerns about contamination and safety of transfer. 

For instance, blood has only been approved for transport through pneumatic tube systems as recently as the mid 1980s. Many hospitals continue to raise concerns about potential contamination which can create a range of issues that can seriously impact patient safety. 

With regards to pneumatic tube transport of narcotics, divergence is a major concern among hospitals. Narcotics in the wrong hands can have serious, if not deadly, consequences.

As tube systems continue to evolve, however, new pneumatic tube carrier designs are more secure and tamper proof. Greater accountability is achieved through special safety protocols that require employee identification to be attached to every carrier. In view of these innovations, many hospitals are opting to revisit their current tube strategy to take better advantage of the efficiencies they provide. 

Improper Use of Carriers is Often Due to Rushing or Insufficient Training

Regardless of published regulations and standards, there will always be instances of improper use of the tube systems that result in transport of unacceptable items [link to what not to put in a tube blog]. Sometimes it is a matter of ignorance, due to lack of sufficient training. Other times an employee may, in their rush to fulfill a need, fail to properly load or close the carrier. Occasionally it is due to mischief or more nefarious reasons.  

These potential issues often support a hospital’s decision to err on the side of under-utilizing their tube systems. While this is understandable, leadership should consider the safety of newer tube systems and optimizing valuable employee time. As Robin points out, you may walk up to any station in any hospital and chances are there will be a notice posted as to what you can’t send through the tube system. Management should ask themselves “Why?” 

There may in fact be a compelling reason behind the policy. For some hospitals, however, it may be a policy leftover from years past. It is important to achieve a good balance between risk and the time savings of employees who no longer have to walk a blood sample or a package of narcotics across a busy hospital campus. There are, after all, risks associated with manual transfer as well. Ultimately, their time might be better spent with patients. 

Every hospital tube system policy should include regular evaluation of system efficiency as well as inspections to ensure that pneumatic tube carriers and the tube network remain clean and in good working order. These are valuable tools to move critical materials from one point to another quickly and safely and to lift the burden off clinicians. Optimizing their use and keeping them in good working order should be a high priority.

If you’d like us to help review your policies and share best practices as a leading supplier in this space, please feel free to contact us. We have installed over 3,000 pneumatic tube systems worldwide and have been actively helping customers maximize their workflows for over 100 years. As you can see, we’re more than just a tube system.