How do you tell a good hospital from a bad one? The answer used to hinge on who you asked, with every health insurer, government organization, and accreditation agency providing their own unique method of measuring and reporting quality. The result has been a mishmash of...
CMS has released its 2015 Report to Congress, which takes a look at the review, validation, and oversight of the activities of approved accreditation organizations (AO), both Medicare accreditation programs and CLIA accreditation programs.
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 27, Issue 4
How do you help patients who want to harm themselves?
The Joint Commission addressed this question in February with Sentinel Event Alert 56, which focuses on finding the root causes of patient suicides and how to prevent them. Between 2010 and 2014, The Joint...
For nearly two decades, communication failures have been frequently attributed to harmful events in healthcare. Judging by a new report looking at malpractice claims, those problems aren't getting any better.
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 27, Issue 4
CMS surveys have become a regular occurrence for many hospitals in the U.S. Over the past five years, CMS has reported more than 18,000 deficiencies, and many hospitals are seeing multiple surveys each year. It is crucial that facilities take a proactive approach to achieving...
A new study published in The Lancet has found that using antibiotic-impregnated central venous catheters (CVC) can halve the rate of bloodstream infections in children.
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed banning most powdered gloves in the U.S. While the use of these gloves is on the decline, the risks associated with them for both healthcare workers and patients cannot be corrected through new or updated labeling, according to the...
What can healthcare facilities do before then to improve CAUTI compliance before the Joint Commission's newest NPSG goes into effect on January 1, 2017?
For the second time in less than six months, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is being questioned on its ability to regulate the safety of medical devices. Many are asking why the agency has allowed the INRatio monitor, a blood-testing device, to remain on the market after thousands of...
