Hospitals are now battling both monkeypox and COVID-19 as twin health emergencies, but CMS has signaled that the waivers and flexibilities allowed for almost three years may be almost up.
In a Q&A, Dan Scungio, MT(ASCP), SLS, laboratory safety officer for multihospital system Sentara Healthcare in Virginia, discusses lab safety and the handling of monkeypox specimens.
How well hospitals remain prepared for a crisis is taking a front seat during surveys, especially as surveyors review how facilities are updating their emergency management plans with lessons learned from the various surges of patients during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Regularly check the humidity and temperature in storage areas for sterile supplies to ensure you are meeting requirements outlined in NFPA 99-2012 and highlighted in a recent Quick Safety alert from The Joint Commission.
An important part of the diversion prevention and detection initiatives of any institution is limiting access to controlled drugs through physical security measures and instituting measures that allow identification of the culprit when diversion does occur.
For the third time, CMS has revised its June 2021 Quality, Safety & Oversight group memo on exemptions for full-scale exercises of emergency management plans during...
The Joint Commission’s newly reorganized and revised Emergency Management standards do not address crisis of care standards now, but the accrediting organization will be considering them in the near future, said Jim Kendig, MS, CHSP, HEM.
