True or false: An important part of the preop verification process that occurs in the preprocedure area is to ensure that all essential documentation is complete, available, and correct.
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...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 21, Issue 3
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...
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...
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
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...
