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...
The year draws to a close, and it’s time for laboratory safety workers to look back at all the laboratory safety stories and topics we’ve covered this year. After all, many lab safety issues from 2024 will cross over with us into 2025.
When the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) set out to find a solution to improve staff well-being, it approached the issue from the organization's side. How can a healthcare organization make its difficult, emotionally invested,...
Security budgets, though critical for safeguarding patients, staff, and visitors, aren’t immune to cuts. Drew Neckar, a security consultant with COSECURE Enterprise Risk Solutions, caught up with HSL for some insights on how hospital security leaders can make...
A report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that 24 laboratory workers were infected with a strain of Salmonella typhimurium, an enteric pathogen. The infections were reported in 16 states across the country. Of those infected, six were hospitalized with symptoms such as...
To frame the conversation, the state of New Jersey is in the process of implementing one of the (if not the) most comprehensive regulatory requirements relative to the management of water as a function of waterborne illnesses. Certainly, the folks in healthcare are already managing these risks,...
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...
Achieving health equity requires active participation by healthcare leaders, and a major step forward is appointing a health equity officer (HEO) to keep your organization on track. This person is responsible for stewarding the crucial work of improving equity and health equity to ensure every...
The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Combined Heat and Power program is an energy solution for hospitals, providing efficient and continuous power that safeguards critical life support systems during grid outages. With the increasing frequency of severe weather events in the U.S...
