In January 2009, all eyes were on the Hudson River when a plane flying out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport crash-landed in the river after striking a flock of geese. Thanks to fast acting by the pilots, all 155 passengers survived, with few major injuries. Trouble started afterwards, though,...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 30, Issue 3
It’s been one year since Hurricane Harvey struck Houston, flooding the city and displacing tens of thousands of people. In one week, the Category 4 storm dropped 61 inches of rain and caused $125 billion in damages. The National Hurricane Center called Harvey “the most significant tropical...
The Joint Commission (TJC) announced revisions to its suicide prevention National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) November 27. NPSG 15.01.01 now has seven elements of performance (EP), up from three. All the changes are listed in...
Hemodialysis is one of four areas The Joint Commission (TJC) says it’s increasing focus on during surveys. With this in mind, ensure that your hospital’s hemodialysis patients remain in clear view of staff while...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 30, Issue 3
The ECRI Institute published its annual list of the top 10 health technology hazards facing healthcare in 2019. Longtime readers will recognize several hazards from ECRI’s 2018 and 2017 lists, such as cybersecurity and mattresses oozing body fluids.
The Joint Commission (TJC) announced revisions to its anticoagulant therapy National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) December 7. NPSG 03.05.01 has eight new or revised elements of performance (EP).
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 30, Issue 3
A study that found independent hospital accreditation carries no real benefit for patient outcomes has garnered a formal rebuttal from The Joint Commission, which argues the researchers reached faulty conclusions due to a number of methodological flaws.
Here are some additional tips from Kathleen Good, MSN, RN, a former surveyor with TJC and now an associate of Patton Healthcare Consulting, for ensuring you keep patients safe and meet surveyor expectations.
Consider managing all your pharmaceuticals as hazardous waste, especially if you are a smaller facility. And warn your C-suite that you’ll be scrutinized for compliance once new environmental regulations take effect.
Hospitals from coast to coast are engaged in efforts to boost quality and safety, such as initiatives aimed at hospital-acquired infections. For one hospital in particular, a poor Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade rating in 2014 became a launching pad for...
