CDC Study Shows Powerful Antibiotic Usage is Increasing
Although overall antibiotic usage in U.S. hospitals has remained steady, the rate of powerful, broad spectrum antibiotics has increased at a worrisome rate, according to CDC researchers. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine reviewed antibiotic usage in hospitals between 2006 and 2012, pulling data from 300 acute care hospitals that provided data for more … Continued
Nine Ways to Prevent Physician Burnout
The high rate of burnout and unengaged physicians and nurses is an increasing concern for the healthcare industry. Burnout is characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced effectiveness. It’s also a proven influence on care quality, patient safety, physician turnover, and patient satisfaction.
U.S. Blood Collection System Faces Multiple Threats
Less-invasive surgeries and new drugs have stanched demand, but more government oversight is needed to safeguard the supply of blood to hospitals.
AHRQ & CMS Award $13.4 M for Pediatric Quality Testing
In October, The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHR) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave six new Pediatric Quality Measures Program (PQMP) grantees $13.4 million to test new pediatric quality measures over the next four years.
The Next Wave of Patient Safety? High Reliability.
Healthcare experts say the industry may have squeezed all it can from technological advancements and standardization, giving way to a new patient safety movement that will shift the focus toward high reliability.
Long-Stalled FDA Reform Sits on Senate’s Lame-Duck Calendar
Republicans in Congress are pushing to pass long-stalled legislation by January that gives the Food and Drug Administration new powers to more rapidly approve drugs and medical devices.
After Tort Reform, Keeping Hospital Care Safe for Patients
Communication-and-resolution programs can be tools for preserving patient safety, not just for avoiding litigation.
Study: 50 Million Patients Suffer Postop Complications Worldwide, 1.5 Million Die
A new study found that out of the 310 million surgery patients who receive surgery every year, 50 million suffer postoperative complications and more than 1.5 million die from those complications. Surprisingly, patients in low- and middle-income countries were less likely to experience complications than those in high-income nations.
Four Years After Fungal Meningitis Outbreak, Compound Pharmacy Safety Concerns Linger
In 2012, a fungal meningitis outbreak was linked to the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Massachusetts, that would eventually lead to more than 750 infections in 20 states and 64 deaths, according to the CDC. The publicized outbreak thrust compounded medicine into the public eye, prompting many facilities and states to review oversight … Continued
Let Hospital Staff Lead Quality Improvement Efforts
In the midst of an unprecedented “change management experience,” the AHA’s top quality executive wants leaders to take a page from other industries that must successfully manager high-risk processes.