Study: CMS Penalties for Hospital-Acquired Conditions Have Little Impact
The targeted billing codes were rarely used by hospitals, and the study found that when hospitals billed for HACs during a patient’s stay, it infrequently affected the diagnosis-related group assignment, impacting hospital reimbursement.
Urinary Catheters Pose More Risks Than Just CAUTIs
In-depth interviews and chart reviews from more than 2,000 patients found more than half of catheterized hospital patients experienced a complication of some kind. The issues ranged from pain, bloody urine and activity restrictions while the catheter was in, to problems with urination and sexual function after it was removed.
New Patient Safety Panel Unveils Areas of Focus
The goal of the committee is to provide a coordinated response from the healthcare and public health sectors to reduce medical harm. The committee is creating a national action plan, which it hopes to implement by the start of next year. The group will meet quarterly, with subcommittees to work on the focus areas.
Discharged Patient Found Dead in Hospital Bathroom
Police said the 60-year-old man, whose name was not released, died on June 21 at the hospital. Hospital officials initially treated the incident as an internal matter and did not contact police until 9:45 a.m. the following day, Mlive.com reported.
Hawaii Hospital Investigates Possible Legionella Outbreak
Doctors believe the deceased patient and another who has been released acquired Legionella outside the hospital. But the state Department of Health stepped in after learning two other patients developed symptoms after already being hospitalized, making it possible they contracted Legionnaire’s in the hospital.
NELP Report: OSHA Enforcement Has Steadily Declined Under Trump
A new National Employment Law Project report that showed that the number of OSHA inspectors continues to steadily fall under the Trump Administration, thus leading to a decline in OSHA enforcement overall.
Post-Colonoscopy Infection Rates Much Higher Than Previously Believed
The study’s researchers examined medical insurance data from 2014 to look at infection rates after colonoscopy and osophagogastroduodenoscopies procedures done at selected outpatient facilities in six states.
Sending Sepsis Patients Home May Not Harm Them
Peltan and his research team studied 8,239 adult ED sepsis patients at two tertiary hospitals and two community hospitals in Utah. The researchers found that 1,607 of the patients—19.5% of the total—were discharged rather than admitted to the hospital.
Joint Commission Issues Guidance on Identifying Human Trafficking Victims
When human trafficking cases are identified, a victim-centered response is recommended, according to The Joint Commission. Victims may not be ready to seek assistance, and an adult victim can’t be forced to report human trafficking. But if the victim is under 18 years old, the provider has a legal obligation to contact Child Protective Services.
APIC Survey Sheds Light on IP Workforce
The results of the APIC MegaSurvey were released during a session at last week’s 45th annual APIC Conference in Minneapolis. Conducted in 2015, the survey was completed by 4,078 active APIC members, or about 31% of the organization’s membership.