Cultural Care Delivery: The Gateway to Promoting Greater Health Equity
These social and economic factors, such as housing, healthy food, and income, can drive up to 80% of health outcomes, making them critical components in any “whole-person” approach to healthcare. In general, SDoH go a long way in determining both the access and quality of care available to people.
Flu Shots Still Required but TJC Eliminates 90% Goal
Initiatives outlined in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections set the goal of a 90% vaccination rate among healthcare personnel. But in the August publication of the HHS “Healthy People 2030” goals, that 90% rate was removed, according to TJC’s announcement.
CISA, FBI, HHS Warn Hospitals of ‘Increased and Imminent’ Cybercrime Threat
In preparation for potential cybercrime threats, the three federal agencies urged Healthcare and Public Health organizations to maintain “business continuity plans” to minimize service interruptions, warning that without these processes in place, hospitals “may be unable to continue operations.”
Mayo Clinic Expert: Healthcare Leaders Play Key Role in Addressing Burnout
Last week, Liselotte “Lotte” Dyrbye, MD, MHPE, a professor of medicine and medical education at Rochester, Minnesota–based Mayo Clinic, was one of the keynote speakers at the second national Summit on Promoting Well-Being and Resilience in Healthcare Professionals. In her presentation, Dyrbye said there are at least 14 methods to address healthcare worker burnout.
Assess Your EVS Program for Infection Control Problems Before Surveyors Show Up
Earlier this year CMS cited hospitals for not following their own policies and failing to ensure environmental services personnel followed standard procedures for infection control during cleaning, including instances of cross-contamination of surfaces.
Healthcare Worker Well-Being and Resilience Summit: Three Big Ideas
Victor Dzau, MD, president of the National Academy of Medicine provided an update on the organization’s Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience. Formed in 2017, the collaborative has launched several initiatives and resources, including resources to support clinician health and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, a clinician well-being knowledge hub, publications, and events and webinars.
Wrapping Up International Infection Prevention Week
As International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) winds down, we at PSQH just want to thank infection preventionists for all the hard work they do every day. In these COVID days, their job is more important than ever. Thanks to our sponsors this week, Angelini Pharma and GOJO, the inventors of Purell.
Post-Pandemic: Be Prepared to Explain How You’re Going to Catch Up
All accreditation organizations as well as CMS are working on backlogs of surveys delayed by the public health emergency (PHE) declared in March. Waivers will no longer be allowed once that PHE is lifted. As many facilities have had their hands full with patient surges from COVID-19, the illness caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus, they’ll have work to do to ensure their environment of care is brought up to speed.
Addressing and Extending Psychosocial Care and Support to Patients and HCWs During COVID-19
In the authors’ hospital of practice, patients who required isolation at the hospital had to adhere to strict infection control protocols, and some did not have a readily available caregiver who could room with them. While provisions were made for these patients to receive some of their essential belongings from home such as their gadgets, phones, and toys, many were unable to access them owing to caregiver challenges, giving rise to feelings of isolation and displacement.
PSQH Quick Poll: Taking the Pulse of Infection Prevention Efforts
Asked to rate the infection prevention efforts of their organization, 57.2% of respondents said their program was extremely effective, 41.3% said their organization’s infection prevention was somewhat effective, and 1.5% said their efforts were not effective.