The latest round of scores that measure rates of errors and infections, indicators of safe practices, shows an increase in the number of hospitals that earned the lowest score. Leapfrog's CEO Leah Binder calls that "a troubling trend."
As I wander around the countryside visiting hospitals of all shapes and sizes, there are a few common challenges that seem to give just about everyone fits. And probably among the most common of commonalities is the challenge of managing patient lifting and all the inherent risks of that...
Researchers estimate that each additional nurse-hour per patient day is associated with 10% lower odds of receiving penalties under The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. Click the link above to read more.
Reaching in once again to the viewer mailbag, we find a question regarding the laundering of staff uniforms. In this particular instance, this organization is moving from a business casual dress code for medical staff to providing scrubs (three sets each) to promote uniformity of attire (sorry,...
When it comes to blood clots in surgical patients, "vigilant hospitals get penalized because [when] they look more, they find more. Their rankings look atrocious," says the author of a report blasting a patient safety measure that he says is driving unintended consequences. Click the link above...
Recently I received a question from the field regarding whether employers are required to provide antibody testing at the conclusion of the Hepatitis B vaccine administration process. Now, this is an interesting one in that the guidance is a wee bit circuitous, but I think we can navigate the...
Encouraging healthcare workers to get their flu shots has been a patient safety and quality of care issue for years. Mandatory public reporting of this hospital quality measure is finally moving the needle. Click the link above to read more.
