Q&A: Tim Vanderveen Discusses Advances in IV Therapy
In this interview, Tim Vanderveen, PharmD, a consultant with ICU Medical, discusses IV therapy and its impact on patient safety.
Don’t Air Your Dirty Laundry
Pests commonly seek places of warmth, with food, moisture, and shelter—and shared laundry facilities offer each of these draws. Because of this, pest management professionals are taking note and encouraging facility managers and staff to do the same.
Improving the Patient Experience Starts in the Waiting Room
Waiting rooms can be a major contributor to infections, with patients waiting an average of 20 minutes before seeing a doctor, according to the Medical Group Management Association. In fact, the CDC reports that one in 31 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection on any given day.
PA Hospital Investigates Waterborne Bacteria as Cause of Three Infant Deaths
Geisinger is working with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the outbreak and ensure that the bacteria has been eliminated.
Top 10 Medical Technology Hazards for 2020 Announced
Surgical staples, point-of-care ultrasound, and infection risks from sterile processing top ECRI’s list of medical technology hazards for 2020.
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters Tied to Severe Allergic Reactions
Researchers from Alberta Health Services and the University of Calgary began the study after reports emerged of serious adverse events following PICC insertions, including hypersensitivity and anaphylaxis reactions.
Use New Delays to Catch Up to More Stringent USP Requirements
Because new USP <800> Hazardous Drugs—Handling in Healthcare Settings refers to the other chapters, it is considered by USP to be “informational only” until the revisions are final. The Joint Commission has said it will continue to survey hospitals to the current USP compounding chapters but will expect hospitals to meet the requirements of local AHJs, as always.
What Keeps Black Women Nurses Out of Leadership Roles?
According to the Institute for Diversity and Health Equity’s 2015 benchmarking study, Diversity and Disparities: A Benchmarking Study of U.S. Hospitals in 2015, “minorities comprise only 14% of hospital board members, 11% of executive leadership positions, and 19% of first- and mid-level managers.”
Two New Protocols for Respirator Fit Testing from OSHA
The new protocols are variations of an existing OSHA-approved method, the ambient aerosol condensation nuclei counter (CNC) quantitative fit testing protocol, often referred to as the “PortaCount® protocol.”
Screen Patients for Social Determinants of Health With This 4-Part Tool
Social needs such as housing and food security can have a crucial effect on patient health. By making direct investments in initiatives designed to address social determinants of health and working with community partners, healthcare organizations can help patients achieve positive health outcomes in ways beyond the traditional provision of medical services.