PSQH: The Podcast Episode 40 – Improving Maternal Health In Childbirth
On episode 40 of PSQH: The Podcast, Dr. Alana McGolrick, chief nursing officer of PeriGen, talks about using technology to improve maternal health in childbirth.
OSHA Issues COVID-19 Vaccination or Testing ETS
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) November 4 issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) requiring employers with 100 or more employees to implement a program of COVID-19 vaccination or regular testing and face coverings to protect unvaccinated workers but not requiring employers to pay for testing.
Airborne Contamination Insights From the Pandemic and Strategies to Optimize Efficiency
By Jennifer Wagner, PhD, CIC, and Damon G. Greeley, PE, CEM, HFDP, CBCP, EDAC, CHFM, A-IPC As more people are vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, many would like to resume their routine medical appointments and elective surgeries. Research indicates that airborne transmission of aerosolized droplets may be a significant factor for the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 … Continued
Complex Healthcare Systems Present Opportunities for Optimization
In a healthcare setting, processes may be interdependent and overlap in various areas of responsibility, potentially impacting patient experience and outcome. Process management, especially for clinical approaches, is typically articulated in a set of repeatable algorithms, or protocols. In a hospital setting, for example, the ED and ICU teams may be involved in the same patient care continuum but have very different roles and responsibilities.
New Chief Physician Executive Shares Keys to Leadership Success
Jeff Ciaramita, MD, was promoted to senior vice president and chief physician executive of Mercy Clinic in October. Mercy Clinic is a large medical group with more than 4,000 providers. The Mercy health system is based in Chesterfield, Missouri, and operates more than 40 hospitals in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
The Patient’s Journey Through the Health System
The patient experience integrates the sum of all interactions of patients, families, and care partners with the healthcare workforce, driven by cultures that support a healthcare ecosystem across the care continuum within communities. This experience extends to all health organizations, whether primary care, hospital, private, or public organizations.
Four Lessons Learned From UW Health’s Virtual Care Rollout
As most health systems found out in the early days of the pandemic, scaling up virtual services was both critical and challenging. For UW Health, this process began with the need to rapidly boost the care team’s ability to work from home, providing virtual consultations and attending virtual rounds that would conserve PPE and reduce contact between team members and patients.
Artificial Intelligence Ushers New Era in Fetal, Maternal Safety in L&D
The use of technology in healthcare has seen exponential growth. Artificial intelligence—in particular, machine learning—is gaining prominence throughout medicine, and is now being applied to enhance fetal and maternal safety in L&D.
Huddles, Handoffs, and Heedfulness are Key to Preventing Harm to Patients
Englewood (Florida) Community Hospital has received 18 consecutive “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, a national distinction recognizing achievements protecting patients from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. Leapfrog is an industry standard for safety, quality of care, and patient experience, particularly for insurance agencies that check grades before recommending facilities to their clientele. Englewood is one of only 41 “Straight A” hospitals to be awarded an “A” in every grading cycle since 2012.
OSHA Cites Nursing Facility Under COVID-19 ETS
The agency’s June 21 COVID-19 ETS only applies to healthcare facilities and healthcare support services where employees may be exposed to COVID-19. Under the ETS, healthcare facilities must conduct a hazard assessment and develop a written plan to mitigate virus spread through methods such as erecting barriers and implementing control measures to maintain 6 feet of distancing between employees at entry points and nursing stations, as well as control staff and patient access to quarantine zones.