At any given moment, the intensity level within the ICU at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston can shift from relatively low to dangerously high. For clinicians, this shift is often instinctual, but difficult to grasp. A flurry of new patients may suddenly require more...
The nonprofit news organizationProPublica has never been one to shy away from controversy, particularly when it comes to healthcare quality. In the past, it has published databases in which patients can see whether their doctor is taking money from pharmaceutical companies, and what...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 26, Issue 10
Antibiotic resistance has reached a "tipping point," according to a Vital Signs report released in August by the CDC. Internal hospital controls are no longer sufficient to prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant organisms. Now, healthcare providers across the country should be...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 26, Issue 10
When The Joint Commission released its list of the five most-cited standards for the first half of 2015, it was not surprising that infection control, specifically IC.02.02.01 (reduction of infection risk from equipment, devices, and supplies), jumped into the second spot.
Massachusetts General Hospital agreed to pay $2.3 million as part of a settlement over allegations that its shoddy drug supply controls led to employees stealing pain medication.
A new Sentinel Event Alert (SEA) issued by The Joint Commission this week urges healthcare facilities to take action to prevent falls and fall-related injuries.
The topic of alarm hazards has crowned ECRI's top 10 list of health technology hazards for the last four years. It's no wonder: Spend any amount of time in a hospital, either as an employee or a visitor, and you are bound to be greeted by a barrage of beeps, various alarms, and other sounds....