Breathe easier knowing how to avoid medical gas runout — inventory management tips

When lives are at stake, you can not run out of critical medical gases like oxygen, nitrous oxide and nitrogen. Hospitals and medical centers rely on a steady supply of these gases for a wide range of needs, including respiratory therapy, surgical procedures, and storing and preserving tissues, cells and blood. And, any interruption of gas flow directly impacts the care of your patients as well as your scheduled procedures.

So what can you do to eliminate the worry associated with managing your medical gas supply? Airgas Healthcare weighs in on some best practices for healthcare facilities to help reduce the risks of gas runout.

1. Have a back-up plan. A manifold system with gas pressure monitoring is a great way to prevent shortages by creating built-in redundancy.
2. Save your breath. Avoid gas waste by turning flow valves off or implement valves or digitial gas monitoring services that help monitor use and provide alerts when gas is low.
3. Check for leaks. Regularly check to ensure fittings aren’t leaking in hospital or storage rooms. Always use gas detectors in storage rooms.
4. Make a list. Require staff to follow post-surgery and nursing staff checklists to make sure flowmeters are turned off or disconnected properly.
5. Check in daily. Confirm there’s enough medical gas on hand to last through your busy patient procedures — this can be done manually by inspecting your manifolds and cylinder content gauges, or digitally with gas monitoring services that provide alerts when your gas cylinders reach preset low pressure points. This can also be accomplished with an on-site gas management service that performs gas/equipment hook ups, organizes and monitors the gas storage area, and orders product to ensure gas continuity to meet your demands.
6. Evaluate the size of your oxygen supply. As you grow, your medical oxygen supply needs to grow with you. Verify that the quantity of gas you are ordering can match the volume you anticipate you will need. Continue to evaluate as your growth plans are realized to ensure your system can efficiently accommodate increased needs with larger supply modes.
7. Always be in compliance. Regularly review NFPA guidelines to ensure all new requirements are met with reserve supply. Consult your medical gas supplier for more information about safe handling, storage and use of compressed gases to minimize risks.
8. Anticipate when you need to replenish mobile oxygen supply. Using mobile medical gas cylinders with advanced gauges and alerts help ensure continuous care and uninterrupted gas supply for your patients.
9. Be aware of demand fluctuations. Prepare by tracking fluctuations with healthcare trends that trigger increased or decreased demand — be alert to changes in seasonal or community illnesses and environmental conditions, like severe weather events, in your geography.

Stay prepared

Hospitals and medical centers continue to find efficiencies in their daily patient loads. Better management of medical gas supply can be a key contributor, including having a consistent and thorough methodology to regularly assess gas volumes and equipment, and to forecast supply. This approach can help you avoid waste and prevent shortages and extra charges incurred with rush deliveries. When your requirements change, such as the addition of a new wing or hospital beds during crises, it’s often necessary to increase medical gas flow to stay ahead of new demands. Having a planned approach, along with these recommendations, can give you the confidence to focus on patient care instead of your gas supply.