A culture of safety can be an elusive concept, making it difficult to create and even harder to sustain. That's why one region of VHA, Inc., is helping to lead its hospitals toward that goal one step at a time.
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 22, Issue 7
Each year, The Joint Commission unveils which standards were among the most cited by surveyors not just for hospitals, but across all of the agency's accreditation programs. Its most recent list, covering calendar year 2010 surveys, reveals many repeat offenders among the most problematic...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 22, Issue 7
Let's say your hospital is looking at a construction project that will directly affect the location of the triage entrance to your emergency department (ED). It's an extensive project and will take almost a full year to complete.
According to Joint Commission standards and federal law, patients have the right to effective communication, including access to interpretation and translation services. It's easy to understand why. Effective communication with a patient is a critical component of patient safety, education, and...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 22, Issue 7
True or False: It is permissible to use standing orders or PRN orders for the initiation of restraint on a unit to avoid contacting the physician to initiate the restraint or seclusion.