4 Ways to Improve Your Hospital Quality and Safety Rankings
For one hospital in particular, a poor Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade rating in 2014 became a launching pad for improved quality and safety.
Shorter Hospital Stays Don’t Increase Pediatric Readmissions
For adults, length of stay has become a key metric for hospital readmissions, with concerns about the quality of discharge care such as patients discharged before they are ready to leave the hospital.
Report Analyzes Obstetrics-Related Outcomes
The report analyzed more than 470 obstetrics-related closed medical professional liability claims from 2013-2017.
More Than 50 Nurses, Staff at NYC Hospital Sickened by Mold
Nurses and other workers in the maternity unit have reported illnesses such as headaches, dizziness, and swollen throats after air monitoring devices found the presence of mold and trace amounts of anesthetic gases. Hospital officials say no patients have had symptoms.
Financial Penalties in Hospital Readmissions Linked to Higher Mortality
In an article published in JAMA, researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center examined the unintended consequences of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, a component of the Affordable Care Act that began in 2012.
Patient Experience Five Times as Likely as Marketing to Drive Consumer Loyalty
Patient experience is five times more likely to influence brand loyalty than conventional marketing tools such as billboards, or television, print, or radio ads, the report says. More than 1,000 adults were surveyed for the report.
Three Ways to Limit Overprescribing Antibiotics in the Urgent Care Setting
In July, CDC researchers published a study in JAMA Internal Medicine that found inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics for respiratory conditions was highest in the urgent care setting at 45.7% of patient visits. Emergency departments were the second highest at 24.6% of patient visits.
CMS Looks Into Whether AOs Have Conflicts of Interest
On December 18, the federal agency pre-published a request for information on “Medicare Program: Accrediting Organizations Conflict of Interest and Consulting Services.”
Nurses’ Union Supports Legislation to Prevent Workplace Violence
The bill would mandate that OSHA establish a national standard requiring healthcare and social service employers to create and implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan.
Final Hazardous Waste Pharmaceutical Rule Issued by EPA
Three years after it was proposed, the final rule, now entitled “Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals and Amendment to the P0875 Listing for Nicotine” will likely be published in the Federal Register by the end of this month and go into effect six months after its publication in the Register.