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one change seems certain: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) as we know it will face significant changes, if it is not repealed altogether.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.
U.S. Blood Collection System Faces Multiple Threats
Less-invasive surgeries and new drugs have stanched demand, but more government oversight is needed to safeguard the supply of blood to hospitals.
AHRQ & CMS Award $13.4 M for Pediatric Quality Testing
In October, The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHR) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave six new Pediatric Quality Measures Program (PQMP) grantees $13.4 million to test new pediatric quality measures over the next four years.
The Next Wave of Patient Safety? High Reliability.
Healthcare experts say the industry may have squeezed all it can from technological advancements and standardization, giving way to a new patient safety movement that will shift the focus toward high reliability.
Long-Stalled FDA Reform Sits on Senate’s Lame-Duck Calendar
Republicans in Congress are pushing to pass long-stalled legislation by January that gives the Food and Drug Administration new powers to more rapidly approve drugs and medical devices.
After Tort Reform, Keeping Hospital Care Safe for Patients
Communication-and-resolution programs can be tools for preserving patient safety, not just for avoiding litigation.