A recent study published in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety has found some good news—the number of reported unintended retained surgical items (URSI) has continued to decline since 2019. While this is a positive trend, it’s not the same as saying the risk is gone. The...
Safety problems identified within the physical environment account for 60%–70% of deficiencies scored by The Joint Commission (TJC) during surveys, according to TJC statistics. However, in the first six months of this year, almost 90% of those Environment of Care (EC) and Life Safety (LS)...
In general, I think it can be rather instructive when (and to what degree) our friends in Chicago modify an existing Sentinel Event Alert, particularly one that relates to the management of risks in the physical environment. And this latest update, as represented by...
Anatomic pathology laboratories present safety concerns that can differ from those in the clinical lab. Formaldehyde and other hazardous chemicals are used to preserve tissue specimens; workers can be exposed to large amounts of blood and body fluid during autopsies; and the sharp blades in...
Pretty much since 2017, I have been wishing, hoping, etc. for the ligature resistance pendulum to find itself in something close to a middle ground. The pendulum will always sway a bit, but I’m thinking that the swings will be somewhat less acute than when we started this journey and move from...
If you’ve asked for a time-limited waiver to address a Life Safety Code (LSC) deficiency, be aware that CMS is unlikely to approve extensions, warned Herman McKenzie, MBA, CHS, director of The Joint Commission (TJC) Standards Interpretation Group’s Physical...
Exposed skin and lab work simply don’t mix, which is why open-toed shoes are verboten in the laboratory, says Dan Scungio, MT(ASCP), SLS, a laboratory safety officer for multihospital system Sentara Healthcare in Virginia. However, that isn’t the only consideration when picking...
The clinical director of The Joint Commission’s (TJC) Standards Interpretation Group is warning hospitals that one of the greatest risks for noncompliance under revisions to U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) <797> requirements for compounding sterile medication will be under drugs in the category 3...
When operating on a patient, minimizing infection risks and eliminating harmful distractions are crucial to their safety—which is why excessive door openings can be a real problem, says Brad Truax, MD, a board-certified physician in neurology and internal medicine with over 20...
One of the critical relationships in the life of any healthcare facilities or safety professional is the one with your chief financial officer (CFO), which, if you think about it, is much like marriage—particularly the “for richer or for poorer” part. Not to belabor the obvious, but just about...
