About those little plastic outlet cover thingies

Also of survey note is the wonderful world of electricity and at-risk patient and visitor populations.

One of the perennial favorites of surveyors is the whole issue of appropriate safeguards in waiting rooms, patient rooms, and other locations in which certain folks (the at-risk population in question) might be inclined to introduce metal objects into the electrical receptacles.

I know a lot of folks use those plastic outlet cover insert thingies as a means of protection, and though I know that there is limited guidance in terms of requirements, I would counsel you to explore other protective measures in this regard.

For those of you who don't know me, my first 17 years in healthcare were in the environmental services realm, so please understand that I am not picking on anyone when I say this: Any time I find places that use the inserts, I invariably find uncovered outlets, too, at which point I jokingly guess that the housekeepers who vacuum the area have piles of these plastic inserts on their bureaus at home.

Never a bad idea to remind folks to put these inserts back in when they're done using the receptacles.

But how about using tamper-resistant receptacles in those at-risk areas? I know they're more expensive that the little plastic inserts, but there's gotta be a break-even point somewhere, yes?

Tamper-resistant receptacles are so much more effective as interventions. They never wander away or get stuffed in someone's pocket. They're always there 24/7--now that's service! This word brought to you by the outlet board...