Articles
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Assessing Competencies Helps Ensure Quality and Safety of Patient Care
Competencies are not just requirements in health care. They are crucial aspects. Competencies play pivotal roles in ensuring patient safety, quality and continuity of care, and operational efficiency. As a healthcare professional, your role in identifying and addressing competence-related issues is paramount.
Time Out: Working to Ensure Operating Room Mistakes Don’t Happen
Did you know that the “time-out” performed in healthcare operating rooms was adapted from the aviatio¬¬n industry’s practices? Aviation’s pre-flight checklist and communication protocols reduced errors and enhanced safety.
Heads Up, Laboratories! Dengue Virus, Novel Influenza, and More
On June 25, 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) message about an increased risk of dengue virus (DENV) infections in the United States in 2024.
Verifying Personnel Credentials Is a Crucial Task for Hospitals
Your latest hire might not be the healthcare professional you think you hired for your acute care hospital. Did you check? A multi-state scheme to sell fake nursing diplomas should serve as a crucial reminder about the importance of verifying credentials for all licensed personnel.
U.S. Agencies Monitoring Avian Influenza While Measles and Mpox Demand Attention, Too
First, birds, of course. Then cows contracted A/H5 avian influenza. And now with a human case confirmed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is taking steps to help manufacturers prepare to mass produce devices for testing. And in the U.S. and elsewhere, measles and Mpox require watching, too.
Medication Safety for Ambulatory Surgery Centers
In any medical setting, accurate recordkeeping and safe management are essential for drugs and biologicals. Medications must always be properly secured and provided in a safe and effective manner. ACHC Standards are specific in how your ambulatory surgery center staff should manage medications and records.
Have a Plan for When You Must Write a Plan of Correction
Nobody is perfectly perfect. Nearly all organizations surveyed for accreditation are cited for deficiencies. To get back on the right track, the organization must develop an effective Plan of Correction (POC) for each deficiency and promptly submit it for approval before a final accreditation status can be determined. It’s a process.
CMS Publishes Final Rule Updating CLIA Regulations
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published final rule CMS-3326-F to update Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) regulations. Topics include the CLIA fee and alternative sanctions, along with histocompatibility and personnel requirements.
Is Your ASC Survey Ready? A Little Effort Can Prevent a Lot of Stress
What? You stressed? Not when you have it all under control with organization and preparation and an assortment of binders holding all the paperwork. When it’s time for your ambulatory surgery center’s accreditation survey, you and your well-informed staff will be survey ready.
Ambulatory Surgery Center: Generator Inspection Checklist
Standard 16.05.03 for Generator Inspection is a critical standard for maintaining a reliable generator and emergency power system.