Expect CMS to maintain its concentration on complaint surveys as the agency continues to work on its post-COVID-19 backlog through the start of the new year. Also look for OSHA to continue its focus on workplace violence protections in healthcare while CMS and its umbrella agency, the Department...
The establishment of a drug diversion oversight committee is critical for healthcare facilities. As the healthcare industry grapples with the imperative to mitigate the unauthorized use or misappropriation of medications, this committee's role becomes ever more pivotal.
While artificial intelligence might be headline news, healthcare and medicine will remain the domain of human caregivers for a long time to come. Doctors to diagnose illnesses, nurses to care for patients. Surgeons to perform operations, lab techs to identify diseases. Receptionists, pharmacists...
As hospitals continue to tackle the challenges of keeping staff and patients safe, some facilities are considering bolstering their security with K-9 forces. In response, the International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety (IAHSS) recently approved guidelines for “Canine (K-9)...
First off, I want to wish you all the very brightest and most prosperous New Year—it’s been a while since a new year has totally delivered on its promise, but I (as always) choose to remain optimistic until proven otherwise.
Hospitals no longer must worry about new—or in some cases even old—ligature risk extension requests (LRER) for deficiencies that cannot be corrected within 60 days. However, hospitals still need to perform risk assessments and have a way to reduce the potential for patients to harm themselves,...
In an era of rapid technological advancement and shifting regulatory landscapes, healthcare facilities face the dual challenge of ensuring patient safety and meeting stringent compliance standards. Organizations continue to grapple with integrating smart technologies for life safety, developing...
As we enter the final moments of 2023 (we won’t be publishing the week of December 25, so I shan’t be pestering you about stuff and nonsense), I continue to reflect on the struggle (and, believe me, the struggle is real) of compliance versus human tendencies. (I was going to say human nature,...
Safe patient handling and mobility programs (SPHM) help reduce injuries to both patients and staff throughout long-term care facilities, acute care facilities, home healthcare, and other high-risk areas. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), SPHM programs involve...
How a laboratory approaches mistakes, successes, and compliance with rules are all equally important, says Sean G. Kaufman, CEO and founding partner of the lab safety company Safer Behaviors—and it all comes back to accountability. As you try to promote safety and quality in...
