In the leviathan that is the nation’s healthcare network; medical delivery services is an important aspect that cannot afford to be overlooked, given the sensitivity of a wide variety of health services aspects to transport and receipt of patient medical records, tissue samples, lab results, blood banks, pharmaceuticals and biohazard. Ensuring the safe and prompt delivery of these items to the appropriate offices is not the work of a simple delivery-man, and requires extensive training and a degree of professionalism not required in other fields.
As a hospital or pharmacy, the medical delivery service you use must be especially knowledgeable, for example, of HIPAA, and the government-rendered privacy rules governing the specifics of the 1996 act. Specifically, the pharmaceutical courier or hospital courier must be aware that what he or she is delivering is of a sensitive nature and under no circumstances should the delivery ever be out of their control. Additionally, the courier should have undergone a Department of Transportation medical training program course covering the handling of biohazard materials; including but not limited to packaging and labeling requirements; which should be present on the hazardous materials at all times during transportation, in sealed, leak-proof containers.
In the event of an accident, such as the release of a blood-borne pathogen, the medical delivery service-person should be well-versed in an Exposure Control Plan consisting of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-mandated containers and spill kits for containment. In addition to being outfitted with these precautions, the vehicle should be able to sustain temperature-specific medical specimens, including organs for transplant. Because time is just as important as the ability to foster and maintain the appropriate environment for specimens and hazards, they should be able to promptly arrive at the laboratory, Biotech firm , hospital or elsewhere in the time required of certain time-sensitive substances, such as blood specimens that will lose their potency if not tested promptly.
The medical courier should have an unquestionable track record of efficiency, with a demonstrable appreciation and awareness of how important their responsibilities are. Professionalism will take the form of being ever-ready with documentation both when things go smoothly during transport, and when they don’t. Response to accidents is often a much better indicator of reliability than a lack of accidents altogether, and this important conduit linking the healthcare network is deserving of the highest scrutiny.