The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a complaint against LabMD, Inc. The complaint alleging that a lack of information security was an unfair practice under Section 5 of the FTC Act. The complaint stems from two incidents: personal information for approximately 9,300 consumers became...
In looking through the ol’ e-mail bag, I received a request for info relative to what the “magic number” was to be able to “count” an influx exercise in compliance with the Emergency Management standards. In looking at this question, I thought to myself that I don’t know that we’ve tackled this...
When a non-English speaking patient is hospitalized, the hospital must provide translation services. These services could include an on-site interpreter. Name at least one other option.
The hospital is a large, multifaceted organism with thousands of moving parts within dozens of units that are often separated by wings, streets, and buildings. The physical barriers, however, are nearly unmatched by the cultural ones-different techniques, opinions, and views of...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 24, Issue 10
Everyone in healthcare knows about the struggles of medication reconciliation and its impact on patient safety and care. The Joint Commission takes notice, building standards and safety goals around safe use of medication, and every facility must take the time to look at its policies and...
As of March 2013, more than 85% of eligible hospitals are participating in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs, and more than 75% have received incentive payments for meaningfully using EHR technology. EHRs are the future, surely and...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 24, Issue 10
Last month in BOJ, we began our discussion of a number of key memos CMS has released impacting hospitals this year. Let's continue our analysis by examining luer misconnections, new Interpretive Guidelines, and changes to reporting adverse events.
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 24, Issue 10
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued 10 penalties to California hospitals after investigations that found that the facilities were noncompliant with licensing requirements that caused or was likely to cause serious injury or death to their patients. Total fines were $674,...
A new collaborative is bringing the meaningful use of checklists to the ambulatory and outpatient setting. The goal is to establish "zero harm," and a key effort in this is to effectively implement safe surgery checklists that include both clinical and safety culture...
