Maternal mortality is a measure of how many mothers die from pregnancy-related complications while carrying or within 42 days after birth. And in most of the developed world, this number has fallen to historic lows.
But not in the U.S., where the maternal mortality rate (MMR) has grown 2....
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 28, Issue 10
Start delegating work now to get your facility ready by January
The Joint Commission finally has prepublished its new and revised pain management standards. They’ll go into effect on January 1, and there is a lot of work to do between now and then. The newest pain management standards call...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 28, Issue 10
There’s no more excuses for getting ready to meet the new emergency preparedness Conditions of Participation (CoP). The final version of the rules came out in late June, and surveyors with CMS and The Joint Commission will begin assessing compliance with the new emergency...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 28, Issue 10
The annual CMS evaluation of accreditation organizations (AO) is out and in the hands of Congress. CMS thinks all the AOs aren’t doing as well as they should in catching violations and is promising Congress that it’s actively working to change that.
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 28, Issue 10
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a key focus for surveyors. Schedule drills for staff on finding the emergency carts with the proper drugs to treat MH, ensure the drugs in those carts are kept up to date, and document education and training in their use.
In response to CMS’ final emergency preparedness rule issued earlier this month, The Joint Commission announced revisions to its emergency management (EM) standards. CMS is expected to approve the updated standards before they go into effect on November 15.
Want to improve your infection control? Consider your hospital floors.
A study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) found that hospital room floors may be an overlooked source of infection.
CMS Administrator Seema Verma announced the agency is temporarily suspending certain Medicare requirements for healthcare providers assisting with Hurricane Irma recovery efforts in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Joint Commission also announced that it would be suspending...
At a Roaring 20s party this summer, I saw a flapper in a sparkly dress dance with her service dog, a husky in a red vest. The woman was having a great time, though the dog seemed confused by the whole situation.
While it was funny to watch then, what if the next day she and her service...
