I think we’ve established for the foreseeable future that the regulatory survey of the physical environment—and, by extension, how one prepares for that survey—is very much a...
CMS has officially put out guidance to its own state survey agencies that all its on-site surveyors should be fully vaccinated, and it expects the same of accrediting organizations (AO). However, according to Quality, Safety & Oversight Group memo QSO-22-10-ALL, AOs are expected to enforce...
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, retaining healthcare staff has grown increasingly difficult. Between the high workload and burnout, many healthcare employees have either left or are thinking about leaving the field.
Healthcare organizations need to look at their safety...
Do you ever think about how you think, or come to conclusions, or make decisions? It’s a Philosophy 101 question, but in the healthcare context it means examining how we make assumptions, skip steps, ignore details, and use flawed reasoning when diagnosing or treating a patient. And all those...
Healthcare Life Safety Compliance - Volume 25, Issue 2
In 2020, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) encouraged organization leaders to examine VR as a training option because it’s a “practical, safe alternative to dangerous live fire scenarios.”
According to the USFA, the leading cause of firefighter death during training is stress/...
The delta and omicron coronavirus variant surges have pushed health systems and hospitals to a breaking point, a trio of healthcare provider executives said yesterday during a webcast hosted by the American Hospital Association.
The antibiotics pipeline has dried up and the companies that make the bulk of antibiotics are facing multiple challenges, a new report from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) says.
There is an ongoing struggle between antibiotic-resistant infections—superbugs such as ...
Another item that I see referenced in surveys with increasing frequency are those relating to organization’s not being able to clearly demonstrate that they are managing their whatevers in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions for use (IFUs). While I do think there is a little bit of...
One way or another, CMS is promising states that it will enforce its mandate for staff at hospitals and other providers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
