California Man Dies After Apparent Failure of Artificial Heart Compressor
The Food and Drug Administration is investigating repeated problems with a portable compressor for artificial hearts that may have played a role in the death earlier this month of a 57-year-old Orange County, Calif., man.
Study: Examining Shorter Readmission Intervals a Better Indicator of Hospital Quality
When looking at the link between readmissions and hospital quality of care, it may be best to focus on patients who return to the hospital seven or fewer days after discharge.
Primary Care Physicians Bench Themselves in Battle Over Opioid Crisis
Española, N.M. – For years, this town has withstood a torrent of opioid-related deaths, and now claims one of the highest rates of opioid overdoses in the country.
What Do Rankings Mean for Patient Safety?
Just as it has every year for the last 26 years, U.S. News & World Report recently released its hospital rankings for 2016-2017. This year, the organization named Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, the best hospital in the country.
CMS Launches New Physician Engagement Initiative
On October 13, CMS announced a push to improve physician engagement and their experience within the Medicare system. To achieve this goal, the agency is trying to reduce the reduce administrative burdens that physicians have to handle with the new Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).
Hospitals Explore a New Approach to MRSA and VRE: Eliminating Contact Precautions
Amid mounting evidence that contact precautions may not be necessary to prevent the transmission of certain infections, experts are calling for hospitals to reconsider what has been a staple of infection prevention guidelines for decades.
3 Tips for Safer Patient Handling
Take time, educate patients, and use assistive technology to curb injuries, says a nurse honored for reducing workplace injuries.
Joint Commission Launches Healthcare Violence Resource Center
The Joint Commission this month launched a digital resource center aimed at reducing workplace violence in healthcare settings.
CMS Gives $347M to Improve Patient Safety
In the last week of September, CMS gave $347 million to 16 different hospital associations, Quality Improvement Organizations (QIO), and health system organizations to continue efforts in reducing Medicare readmission and hospital-acquired conditions.
Lessons Learned In the Fallout of Virginia Mason’s Accreditation Struggles
A preliminary denial offers a stark reminder that even top-rated hospitals are not immune to survey deficiencies.