CommonWell Health Alliance to Launch Initial Interoperability Service Offerings
CommonWell Health Alliance (the “Alliance”) – the health information technology (HIT) vendor-led interoperability effort – has announced that Chicago, Illinois; Elkin and Henderson, North Carolina; and Columbia, South Carolina have been selected as participating regions for its first rollout of CommonWell’s interoperability services. Additional provider sites and geographies will be announced in the coming months.
Joint Commission “R3 Report” Explains New Clinical Alarm National Patient Safety Goal
The Joint Commission recently released an “R3 Report” for the new National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) that requires accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals to improve the safety of their clinical alarm systems. “R3 Report” provides accredited healthcare organizations and interested healthcare professionals in-depth information about the rationale and references that were employed in the development of the new alarm NPSG.
System Secures, Tracks Medication Deliveries Sent Through Existing Pneumatic Tube Delivery Systems
Aethon Inc. has unveiled a patent-pending system that secures and tracks medication deliveries sent through a hospital’s existing pneumatic tube system and guarantees medication is delivered to authorized personnel. Pneumatic tube systems are used extensively to deliver medications through hospitals. Yet, missing or delayed doses cost the hospital millions of dollars in lost productivity, inventory, and safety concerns.
Toshiba’s Dose Tracking System Optimizes Dose Management to Improve Patient Safety
For the first time ever, clinicians have the flexibility to track X-ray skin dose exposure in real time during interventional procedures with Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.’s Dose Tracking System.
Winners of the 2013 Hospital Website Transparency Awards Program Announced
URAC and The Leapfrog Group have announced the winners of the 2013 Hospital Website Transparency Awards Program. The two organizations have partnered for a second year to identify outstanding hospital websites that promote transparency of safety and quality measures in a manner that is useful and user-friendly for consumers.
VitalHealth Software Launches Patient Engagement Solution in US Market
VitalHealth Software, a leading global provider of web-based solutions for health management established by Mayo Clinic and the Noaber Foundation, has announced the availability of VitalHealth QuestLink, a cloud-based software solution to stimulate patient engagement through the use of online questionnaires.
Healthcare-Associated Infection Reports
Healthcare-Associated Infection Reports
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are one of the top-10 leading causes of death in the United States (Klevens et al., 2007). When in the hospital for treatment, a patient risks being among the 5% who become infected by bacteria or viruses from other patients or from the hospital environment (The World Health Organization, 2009). These bacteria and viruses are spread in various ways, including unwashed hands of personnel or visitors, inadequate sterile techniques, and patient care practices.
Integrating Biomedical Devices Across the Enterprise? Go with the Flow
Integrating Biomedical Devices Across the Enterprise? Go with the Flow
With this issue, Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare (PSQH) reaches its fifth anniversary, which prompts me to take a moment and think about how much the world has changed and stayed the same in the past five years. When we published the first issue, in July 2004, the patient safety community was discussing how much progress—if any—had been made since the IOM published To Err Is Human five years earlier, and now we are assessing progress made over the past 10 years.
Brain Science Provides New Approach to Patient Safety Training
Brain Science Provides New Approach to Patient Safety Training
No matter how rigorous and well-formulated patient safety training may be, attendees cannot escape the normal physiological process of forgetting that can wipe out much of what they learn even within 30 days. This “forgetting curve” is a daunting consideration for health quality leaders who must assure their staff members continually meet Joint Commission and other healthcare quality standards long after a training course is completed.
Don’t (Always) Give Blood
Don’t (Always) Give Blood
Every Friday morning at Abington Memorial Hospital in suburban Philadelphia, cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, medical technologists, and critical care nurses gather to discuss new protocols. Later the same day, they go on rounds together, gathering at open-heart surgery patients’ bedsides to share knowledge and look for ways to improve outcomes for these critically ill patients.