The New War on Sepsis
The sepsis program in the St. Joseph Hoang network seems to be working. The death rate for all of its hospitals from 2015-2016 has dropped from 15 percent to 12 percent for severe sepsis/shock, and from 12 percent to 9 percent for all sepsis cases.
CDC Updates SSI Guidelines for the First Time in 18 Years
Between 2006 and 2009, roughly 1.9% of surgical procedures in the United States resulted in SSI complications; however, it’s likely that number is much higher since about 50% of SSIs don’t become evident until after discharge. Estimated costs of SSIs range from $10,443 to $25,546 per infection, although it can cost more than $90,000 to treat an SSI involving a prosthetic joint implant or an antimicrobial-resistant organism.
Time Out Day for Patient Safety
June 14 is National Time Out Day , a Joint Commission and Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) campaign to promote patient safety before, during, and after surgery. The organizations are also reminding healthcare facilities to commit to conducting a safe, effective time outs for each and every surgery.
Quantity Over Quality? Minorities Shown to Get an Excess of Ineffective Care
Minority patients face a double whammy: Not only are they more likely to miss out on effective medical treatments than white patients, but, according to a new study, they’re also more likely to receive an abundance of ineffective services.
CMS Publishes New Emergency Preparedness Interpretive Guidelines
On June 2, CMS published its final rule for emergency preparedness guidelines and survey procedures. These rules affect all 17 providers and suppliers and the rules will be enforced starting November 15, 2017.
Handshake-Free Zone: Keep Those Hands – and Germs – to Yourself in the Hospital
Testing a new method for limiting the spread of germs and reducing the transmission of disease in the hospital: a handshake-free zone.
Molina Healthcare, a Top ACA Insurer, Investigates Breach of Patients’ Data
Molina Healthcare, a major insurer in Medicaid and state exchanges across the country, has shut down its online patient portal as it investigates a potential data breach that may have exposed sensitive medical information.
CMS Report Reveals Gender Disparities in Care Quality
Two of the most significant healthcare gender disparities are related to follow-up care and alcohol/drug treatment, according to Gender Disparities In Health Care in Medicare Advantage, a report released by the CMS Office of Minority Health in April based on 2015 data.
Caucus Pushes for Telemedicine Expansion in Congress
When it comes to healthcare and congress, finding bipartisan support on anything is a daunting task. Politicians from both sides are coming together in support of new bills aimed at improving and expanding telemedicine services in the United States.
Putting A Lid on Waste: Needless Medical Tests Not Only Cost $200B – They Can Do Harm
Some experts estimate that at least $200 billion is wasted annually on excessive testing and treatment. This overly aggressive care also can harm patients, generating mistakes and injuries believed to cause 30,000 deaths each year.