This is Part 2 of our interview with Kurt Patton, MS, RPH, founder of Patton Healthcare Consulting and a former director of accreditation services for The Joint Commission (TJC). He is joined by Jennifer Cowel, RN, MHSA, president of Patton Healthcare Consulting...
Inside the laboratory there are many safety controls for hazardous materials—but what controls do you have when transporting those materials outside the lab? The substances and materials lab workers use to do their jobs don’t appear in the building by magic. Nor are they beamed to their final...
Healthcare facilities aim to provide high-quality care to patients in an environment that is safe for workers. One of the ways facilities can ensure their staff’s safety is through a comprehensive sharps injury prevention program.
In reviewing the April 2024 edition of Joint Commission Perspectives, specifically the Consistent Interpretations column, I noticed that almost a third of the hospitals surveyed in 2023 were cited for issues relating to the weekly inspection of Emergency Power Supply System (EPSS)...
The Joint Commission (TJC) has released its annual list of the most challenging standards for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. In 2023, many hospitals were cited for noncompliance over suicide risk management, high-level disinfection of equipment, medication verification, and...
Since the original programs of the 1980s, crew resource management (CRM) training has evolved to include additional subject matter beyond a focus on interpersonal communication. Today, CRM core content typically includes topics such as leadership, team building, followership and conflict...
The Joint Commission (TJC) has released its annual list of the most challenging standards for laboratories and other healthcare facilities. In 2023, many laboratories were noncompliant when it came to investigating testing errors, performing preventive maintenance and competency assessments,...
As I think about it, I probably should have come up with this one a little earlier in the year when the world was full of the spritely talk of annual evaluations of physical environment management programs, but I guess there’s no statute of limitations on discussing goals—or indeed, any sort of...
With the COVID-19 pandemic still fresh in people’s minds, the CDC released updated recommendations for respiratory virus protection on March 1. The guidance recommends vaccinations, hygiene, and good air quality to help prevent respiratory viruses. It also tells readers when a sick person can...
CMS now allows texting of patient orders, but roll out its implementation carefully, say compliance experts. Policies will need to be updated with specifics on when and how orders can be texted and what kinds of information may or may not be included in a text. Then physicians, nurses, and...
