In looking back at some of the events that have buffeted healthcare (yes, I’m talking to you, pandemic!), I’m trying to wrap my head around how a healthcare organization would have been able to stay open and operational without having the essential elements of a COOP.
The Joint Commission (TJC), CMS, and other regulatory bodies keep accreditation and quality leaders on their toes every day. We’ve caught up with Kurt Patton, MS, RPh, founder and president emeritus of Patton Healthcare Consulting, on several subjects throughout the year that...
One of the most stressful things about a healthcare survey is that you don’t always know what surveyors will uncover. Is there a Condition of Participation that you’ve been noncompliant on for years? What if an emergency situation happens while the surveyors are in the building? How...
As we approach Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, the desire to bring cheer and decorate the healthcare environment is natural. However, a bit like Scrooge and the Grinch, infections and fire hazards don’t recognize holidays. Nor do The Joint Commission (TJC) and CMS let healthcare staff...
On January 1, 2025, the new workplace violence (WPV) prevention standards for home health agencies will go into effect for facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. Some of the requirements that will go into effect include creating a formal definition of WPV, outlining leadership oversight...
You have to know where you shut them off—make sure you label those shutoff valves!
That’s one of the pearls of wisdom dispensed during the most recent Executive Briefings by our friends in Chicago. It appears that there’s been a run on unlabeled shutoff valves during this year’s surveys,...
In May, the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) introduced its revised Long-Term Care Dialysis (LTCD) Certification, offering a new level of recognition for providers delivering dialysis services in long-term care and skilled nursing facilities. This certification is available to all...
This is part two of our interview with Kurt Patton, MS, RPH, founder of Patton Healthcare Consulting and a former director of accreditation services for The Joint Commission (TJC), on conducting mock or preparatory surveys.
Hospitals and other healthcare facilities have been on OSHA’s “high-risk” workplace list for a few years. That means the regulatory agency has noticed an increased number of employee injuries there, and therefore OSHA inspections have increased in hospitals and labs as well. If an OSHA inspector...
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement recently announced that 7,000 healthcare professionals around the world have earned the organization’s Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) credential. PSMJ sat down with Patricia McGaffigan of IHI to ask her about the...
