Every month, Briefings on The Joint Commission brings you the latest news in Joint Commission survey preparation, standards interpretation, and best practices, as well as CMS and other hospital accreditation-related topics. This month, we look at the latest Joint Commission news, CMS changes and...
Since 2002, the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) has sponsored Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) as a means of making caregivers, other types of hospital staff, and community members more aware of patient safety issues. This year, the event is being observed from March 7 to March 13...
Q: How should our organization meet compliance with educating patients and their families on multidrug-¬resistant organisms (MDRO), central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), and surgical site infections (SSI)? Should we discuss these topics with all patients and...
One of the most vital parts of providing adequate healthcare is the exchange of information between patient and caregiver. Without clear communication, it can be difficult, and even dangerous, to treat a patient. For patients who have limited English proficiency (LEP), as well as providers, the...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 21, Issue 3
Hospitals look for ways to improve patient education all the time. Once in a while, this education pays dividends on multiple levels—like the case of Parrish Medical Center in Boca Raton, FL, where an education program on Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) not only caught a significant portion of...
As we move further into 2010, I’m excited about the opportunities for growth and improvement we have in store for our patient safety programs. The projects, improvement initiatives, and measures of success are neatly described on paper and await skillful execution. However, the sense of...
In 2007, The Joint Commission made an addition to Goal #8 regarding medication reconciliation: Along with compiling a list of medications upon admission, each patient must receive a list of his or her medications upon discharge. (This National Patient Safety Goal is set to be revamped this year...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 21, Issue 3
Imagine this scenario: The Joint Commission surveyor arrives in the surgical services suite and asks about the use of flash sterilization. He or she is escorted to the location of one of the flash sterilizers just as the tray of items is being removed by a staff person. The staff member uses a...
