When conflicts arise in the lab, they can distract staff from their work or safety practices. To talk about how a lab can prevent conflicts from arising and steps to take when they do, we spoke with Dan Scungio, MT(ASCP), SLS, laboratory safety officer for multihospital system Sentara Healthcare...
Looking back on what was new and announced by The Joint Commission (TJC) and CMS during this year so far, there is a laundry list as usual. Among others, Kurt Patton, MS, RPh, founder and president emeritus of Patton Healthcare Consulting, cites two particular developments.
Like many healthcare compliance professionals, Scott Wytosick, CFPS, CHFM, consultant for Jensen Hughes, is looking ahead to 2025. We asked Wytosick what’s top of mind in terms of changes coming down the pike, and the answer was that things are pretty much status quo—though that doesn’t mean...
Recently, I’ve seen some survey activity that prompts me to chat a little bit about essential electrical systems (EES) and to provide you with a source of information in that regard. The survey findings have related to the connection of inappropriate equipment to a branch of the EES or an...
OSHA has finalized a rule amending the Representatives of Employers and Employees regulation. This amendment clarifies that during OSHA inspections, employee representatives may include third-party individuals who are not employees of the employer. Such third-party representatives can accompany...
Within healthcare, bloodstream infections (BSI) are an evergreen danger for patients. Caused when bacteria enter a patient’s bloodstream via a laceration or the insertion of a medical device, BSI prevention is a topic that infection preventionists are constantly working on.To learn more about...
We continue our conversation with Jennifer Cowel, RN, MHSA, president of Patton Healthcare Consulting and Barrins & Associates and a former Joint Commission nurse surveyor and director of service operations, about the apparent increase in the number of adverse outcomes and complaint surveys...
My good friend and esteemed colleague, Robert Vance III, has been working in the hospital environment for a fair number of years now. In working with Bob at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California, what has impressed me most is his thoughtful and measured approach to everything he...
As ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) strive to maintain high standards of safety and compliance, understanding key aspects of life safety and fire safety codes is essential. In this article, we delve into what may seem like basic—but crucial—topics with insights from Dale Lyman, CFPS...
As children across the country head back to school, the risk of viruses and infections spreading increases. Teachers, students, and staff all come into close contact with one another on school grounds, making it extremely easy to transmit illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, respiratory...
