FDA: Problems Persist With Duodenoscope Reprocessing
The FDA analyzed 205 medical device reports received between October 15, 2018 and March 31, 2019 and found 45 reports of patient infection, one report of patient exposure, and 159 reports of device contamination, according to an FDA alert released last week.
Improve Medication Reconciliation, Postacute Handoff Using 2-Part Discharge Checklist
Without a thorough discharge summary and completed medication reconciliation, postacute-care teams can be bewildered, and patients can be at risk of costly readmissions. Research has linked readmissions to poor communication and poor care coordination between hospitals and primary care providers.
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.
Joint Commission to Publicly Report C-sections
Hospital rankings will be based on The Joint Commission’s perinatal care (PC) Cesarean Birth measure PC-02. Hospitals accredited by TJC are already required to report that data to the accreditor, but this will be the first time it’ll be visible to the public.
Multidrug-Resistant Infections Can Cost $4,600 Per Hospital Stay
The development of antibiotic-resistant infections is one of the most severe public health problems in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How a Maryland Hospital Reduced Sepsis Mortality by 65%
From 2012 to 2016, Frederick Memorial Hospital implemented sepsis surveillance and treatment measures that reduced the infection’s mortality rate by 65%.
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.
Once Again, Safety Issues Top List of Most-Cited TJC Standards
Released in the April issue of Perspectives, the list covers the top Joint Commission requirements that surveyors found to be noncompliant most often during 2018.
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.