High Hospital C-section Rates Will Be Published Online in 2020
The Joint Commission will only track the number of C-sections done on nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) births—procedures performed on first-time mothers carrying a single baby that has its head facing down at the onset of labor.
Q&A: Legal Marijuana Use in Hospitals
At the moment, the laws on this topic are very dependent on where your facility is located, and you should take the time to look up your state laws. This Q&A is meant to clear up some of the broader questions around medical cannabis in healthcare—for patients as well as healthcare employees.
Envision Develops Portal for Patient Handoff Best Practices
During the transition between care providers, the potential for patient harm grows due to the transfer of inaccurate, incomplete, delayed, misinterpreted, or otherwise unhelpful information about the patient’s condition.
Get Ready for New Joint Commission Suicide Prevention Standards
The added emphasis on suicide comes at a time of national concern about suicides in hospitals and is meant to complement the “Zero Suicide” campaign, an effort by several outreach groups to eliminate suicide in healthcare facilities nationwide, according to Joint Commission literature.
Crisis Communication: 10 Tips for Hospitals to Prepare for a Disaster
Several hospital leaders with firsthand experience in crisis management shared insights on how to address communication issues—a core element of emergency preparedness—in a discussion I moderated at the annual Voalte User Experience conference.
Happy Patient, Happy Hospital: Increase Patient Engagement With Advocates
Advocates who work for hospitals and health systems help patients navigate the care they receive within that system, as well as any associated financial responsibilities. They do so for all patients, free of charge, as part of their in-hospital services.
Postmortem: Was the Failed Massachusetts Law Requiring Patient Limits for Nurses a Good Idea?
The proposed law, which became known as “Question 1” because of its position on the referendum ballot, was soundly defeated in the November 2018 election, with about 70% of Massachusetts poll-goers voting “no.” An industry-backed campaign from hospital executives spent around $27 million exhorting voters to turn down the measure.
Talk Down: Joint Commission on De-escalation
The Joint Commission (TJC) released a new report on January 28: Quick Safety 47: De-escalation in Healthcare. This report discusses better training to mitigate such situations. The accreditor writes that as violence against nurses, doctors, and healthcare staff becomes more prevalent, the need for mitigation is greater than ever. Violence and assault are perpetual risks for anyone working in healthcare, particularly nurses and nursing assistants.
Depression Screening and Treatment
Despite clear guidelines saying providers should screen for depression and provide follow-up and treatment, it’s the fourth least-reported measure on the Medicaid Adult Core Set. And only seven states report depression screening and follow-up data.
5 Ways to Support Nurses Experiencing Domestic Violence
According to a 2014 study in the Journal of Emergency Nursing, three in four nurses experienced verbal or physical abuse from patients and visitors. As a result, nurse leaders are grappling with the issue of how to protect staff against workplace violence.