Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a key focus for surveyors. Schedule drills for staff on finding the emergency carts with the proper drugs to treat MH, ensure the drugs in those carts are kept up to date, and document education and training in their use.
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 28, Issue 10
The annual CMS evaluation of accreditation organizations (AO) is out and in the hands of Congress. CMS thinks all the AOs aren’t doing as well as they should in catching violations and is promising Congress that it’s actively working to change that.
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 28, Issue 10
There’s no more excuses for getting ready to meet the new emergency preparedness Conditions of Participation (CoP). The final version of the rules came out in late June, and surveyors with CMS and The Joint Commission will begin assessing compliance with the new emergency...
In response to CMS’ final emergency preparedness rule issued earlier this month, The Joint Commission announced revisions to its emergency management (EM) standards. CMS is expected to approve the updated standards before they go into effect on November 15.
Want to improve your infection control? Consider your hospital floors.
A study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) found that hospital room floors may be an overlooked source of infection.
CMS Administrator Seema Verma announced the agency is temporarily suspending certain Medicare requirements for healthcare providers assisting with Hurricane Irma recovery efforts in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Joint Commission also announced that it would be suspending...
At a Roaring 20s party this summer, I saw a flapper in a sparkly dress dance with her service dog, a husky in a red vest. The woman was having a great time, though the dog seemed confused by the whole situation.
While it was funny to watch then, what if the next day she and her service...
National Suicide Prevention Week is September 10-16, bringing awareness to the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. This week is a time for physicians, nurses, and other providers to learn more about how their healthcare organizations can help suicidal patients.
This September, The Joint Commission posted an infographic on “high-quality hand-offs.” The infographic is a companion to the accreditor’s Sentinel Event Alert (SEA) 58 on inadequate handoff communications and its effect on patient care. Transferring a patient’s care between providers is major...
