In patient safety and quality, there is no shortage of data and information that needs to be gathered from an inpatient stay. Data are collected for compliance with federal quality-of-care measures, federal and state patient safety indicator and event tracking, accreditation, professional...
Most clinicians understand the dangers multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) present to patients. Most also understand that these germs are easily spread through hands and other surfaces, and that hand washing is a proven method for preventing MDROs from spreading. Yet—as many patient safety...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 21, Issue 11
Starting in 2011, Joint Commission surveyors will begin looking at—but not scoring—new standards for patient-centered communication. These standards were approved in December 2009 and published to the field for review the following January.
Preventing medical errors and patient harm is a top priority for most hospitals. Physicians, nurses, and other clinicians do not enter their professions to produce poor outcomes.
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 21, Issue 11
Has your facility considered going restraint free? Have you succeeded? According to the most recent benchmarking survey conducted by the Association for Healthcare Accreditation Professionals (AHAP), a large percentage of hospitals have at least explored the option of going restraint free,...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 21, Issue 11
Several major issues have been addressed or streamlined headed into 2011, The Joint Commission stated during its recent Executive Briefings session in New York City. Many of these changes are intended to put an end to ongoing problematic standards, end several-year-long debates, and clarify...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 21, Issue 11
Every September at Executive Briefings, The Joint Commission announces its most commonly cited standards for the first half of the year. 2010 is no different, and in fact saw a great deal of carryover from last year’s most problematic hospital challenges. From January to June 2010, the single...
Editor’s note: The following column answers some data-related questions on “Patient Safety Talk,” an HCPro listserv that addresses many of the topics covered in this newsletter and is available to subscribers on the Patient Safety Monitor website. This month’s questions are...
True or false: The safety officer has the authority to take immediate action if he/she feels that there is a safety concern that poses an immediate threat to patients, employees, or visitors.
