Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act, which targets several reimbursement issues in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.
Joint Commission surveys will include requirements from the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 2012 Life Safety Code® (LSC) starting in November. CMS had adopted the 2012 LSC in May with The Joint Commission following suit in early June.
At the American Pain Society’s (APS) 35th Annual Scientific Meeting, researchers unveiled a new screening tool for opioid abuse risks that involves asking patients one question
Despite the efforts of CMS and the Department of Health and Human Services, the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) is on the rise. Between 2009 and 2013, infections linked to catheters increased by 6%, which has spurred The Joint Commission to create a new National...
Released late last month, the National Quality Forum’s (NQF) Antibiotic Stewardship in Acute Care: A Practical Playbook is broken into five core elements focused on proper antibiotic usage: Leadership commitment, accountability, drug expertise, action, and tracking.
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 27, Issue 6
Last year, the Joint Commission's infection control (IC) standard IC.02.02.01 had the dubious honor of being the second-most cited standard for hospitals, critical access hospitals, and ambulatory care facilities. The standard requires organizations to lower infection risks...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 27, Issue 6
As the struggle against opioid addiction rages on, The Joint Commission is facing criticism that its pain management standards are contributing to the problem.