Joint Commission Targets CAUTIs with Updated NPSG
Earlier this year, The Joint Commission updated its National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) on catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) for hospitals and critical access hospitals. It also created a new CAUTI NPSG for nursing care centers. “An estimated 1 to 3 million healthcare-associated infections strike nursing home residents annually, and many of these are infections … Continued
Can Predictive Analytics Push Patient Safety Into the 21st Century?
For industries across the country, data has become a key element of operational improvement, and the use of predictive analytics in particular has opened a new opportunity to better utilize a growing repository of data.
HHS: $28 Billion Saved Through Patient Safety Efforts
Efforts to improve patient safety are paying off, according to a new Health and Human Services (HHS) department report.
Naval Medical Center San Diego Makes History as First DoD Medical Facility to Perform Allogeneic Stem Cell Infusion on a Patient
The Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) performed their first allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell infusion on a patient—the first ever performed at a U.S. military treatment facility.
As the Threat of Sepsis Intensifies, Experts Push For a Faster Response
A deadly infection that has lingered throughout healthcare for the last several decades is finding a foothold at the national level thanks to recently updated definitions that offer clinicians a more targeted approach for detection and prevention.
AHA Sends Second Appeal to Trump
Pleading that the nation’s hospitals face a “substantial and unsustainable” regulatory burden, the American Hospital Association presented an eight-page list of remedies to the president-elect.
In Next Evolution of Healthcare, Will Quality Remain a Focus?
Although there remain many unknowns about the impact President-elect Donald Trump will have on U.S. healthcare, one change seems certain: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) as we know it will face significant changes, if it is not repealed altogether.
Ambulatory Surgery Centers Survey Process Changes
Starting January 1, 2017, two-thirds of ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) using the Medicare-deemed option may receive adjustments to their Joint Commission survey team structure and survey length.
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.