Education: Interdisciplinary Skills Labs for Quality Improvement
By Ariadne K. DeSimone
In spring 2014, one day after taking the United States Medical Licensure Examination: Step 2 Clinical Knowledge, I finally had time to turn my attention to thoughts about my future and to the email messages that had accumulated over the past month. One announcement stood out: the Emory University Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Open School Chapter was seeking applications for its leadership team. With plans to begin the master of public health (MPH) in health policy and management program at the end of the summer, between my third and fourth years of medical school, I was searching for extracurricular opportunities that would complement my studies. In that moment, as I read the email solicitation, I took a leap of faith. I had never heard of IHI, yet within a week I had applied, interviewed, and accepted a position as director of education for Emory’s Chapter of IHI Open School. I was compelled to act so spontaneously by what I understood to be the vision, mission, and approach of IHI: to work with health systems and other organizations around the world to improve healthcare quality, safety, and value.
I-PASS and SBAR Handoff Tools Have Proven Benefits
Communication failures continue to plague patient care. Experts weigh in on why nearly one-third of malpractice claims involve a communication failure, leading to significant patient harm For nearly two decades, communication failures have been frequently attributed to harmful events in healthcare. Judging by a new report looking at malpractice claims, those problems aren’t getting any … Continued
Innovations in Nursing
Innovations in nursing run the gamut from emergence of nurseled protocols to improved communication practices to various technological advances, including telehealth and virtual simulation. “The emergence of nurse-led protocols has been critical to increasing patient safety,” says Milisa Manojlovich, PhD, RN, CCRN, associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. “Nurses are being … Continued
FDA Proposes Ban on Most Powdered Surgical Gloves
On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed banning most powdered gloves in the U.S. While the use of these gloves is on the decline, the risks associated with them for both healthcare workers and patients, cannot be corrected through new or updated labeling, says the FDA. “This ban is about protecting patients … Continued
Hopkins: ‘Cascading Accountability’ Boosts Ambulatory Quality, Safety
By Alexandra Wilson Pecci, HealthLeaders Media Johns Hopkins Medicine coordinates high-quality care across ambulatory care centers, using a model it says has resulted in improved metrics associated with breast cancer screenings, immunizations, and diabetes management. Johns Hopkins Medicine’s commitment to quality care is evidenced by a governance, oversight, and accountability model that is cascading throughout … Continued
Failure Recovery Tool Offers Guidance Amid the ‘Chaos and Shock’ of Medical Errors
This article appears in the March issue of Patient Safety Monitor. Hospitals need to have a structure in place to respond to patient safety failures Healthcare can be a stressful industry to work in, particularly when something goes wrong. Instead of relying on humans to react under pressure, one organization is offering a structured … Continued
Letter to the Editor: Did the FDA Say Duodenoscopes Were Safe? Part 2
A post on February 24, 2016 by PSQH was headlined “FDA: Duodenoscopes from three major companies now safe to use with updated instructions.” The article went on to say that “The announcement means that scopes from the three major manufactures…are now safe to use with their updated instructions.” However a proper reading of the FDA … Continued
Bribery on Two Continents: Olympus Corp. to Pay $646 million settlement
On March 1, the Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Olympus Corp. with paying millions of dollars in kickbacks to hospitals and doctors to buy its products. The company, which owns 85% of the U.S. endoscope market, has agreed to pay $646 million to resolve the criminal charges and civil charges brought against it. The sum … Continued
Study: Poor Communication Leads to Malpractice, Death
Poor communication in healthcare has tangible, measurable effects. A new study released by CRICO Strategies found that communications failures were a factor in 30% of malpractice cases between 2009 to 2013, including 1,744 deaths. The reports estimate that both the deaths and $1.7 billion in malpractice costs could have been avoided with better communication between patients and physicians.
FDA validates revised reprocessing instructions for Model ED-530XT duodenoscopes
FUJIFILM Medical Systems issued revised reprocessing instructions late last month for Model ED-530XT duodenoscopes, according to a safety communication issued by the FDA. The instructions require exacting pre-cleaning, manual cleaning, and high-level disinfection procedures. While these revised reprocessing instructions are for Model ED-530XT duodenoscopes, the FDA is encouraging healthcare facilities that use Fuji’s 250 and … Continued