In addition to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the United States and the world continues to be challenged by disasters, such as droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, severe weather events, and terrorism.
When they occur, nurses are called on to respond during and following a disaster....
The public health emergency (PHE) related to COVID-19 would seem to have added some barriers to treatment of hearing-impaired patients. As telehealth use has exploded during the PHE, there’s now a new line of service for which you may need to address challenges for deaf or hard-of-hearing...
Keep in regular contact with your supply chain and ensure they are checking the quality and integrity of supplies from nontraditional and foreign suppliers following an alarming report on disposable isolation gowns from ECRI, the nonprofit patient safety organization based in Pennsylvania. More...
A new study has found that 18.1% of COVID-19 patients are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder such as depression, anxiety, or insomnia within 90 days of receiving their COVID-19 diagnosis, 5.8% for the first time.
As of January 1, 2021, you will have one less thing to worry about: The Joint Commission (TJC) is eliminating its requirement that hospitals work toward achieving a 90% flu vaccination rate under Infection Prevention and Control standard IC.02.04.01.
Below is a sample of records and documents requested during TJC triennial hospital surveys in August, according to Gayle Nash, RN, MPH, CEO of Nash Healthcare Consulting.
Your facility will need diagrams or schematics of its water system and a way to address stagnant water under the new requirements set out by a new standard from The Joint Commission (TJC). The new Environment of Care standard EC.02.05.02 requires hospitals to have a water management program “in...
Expect emergency preparedness and infection control to remain front and center during accreditation and compliance surveys for the immediate future as 2021 starts much the way most of 2020 played out-–with all hospital operations centered around a pandemic that ebbs and surges and a political...
As COVID-19 and the rest of this year’s chaos continues to take its toll on your hospital, set up ways for your staff to let off steam, meditate for a few minutes, or just find some peace and quiet. And remember to help them grieve. Think about setting up a place online or in your facility to...
