Articles
For information related to a specific standard, enter the standard number in the search bar below. If no result is returned, contact your account advisor for guidance.

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.

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.

Got Safety Plans? Waterborne Pathogens Can Spread Infection
As essential as water is to any hospital, this crucial element also can be a threat to patient safety. Waterborne pathogens – including multidrug-resistant organisms – can spread in seemingly innocuous ways. Having safety plans is essential.

Unraveling the Mysteries of Informed Consent
Patients or their representatives have the right to participate in the development of the patients’ plans of care. This includes providing informed consent for medical and surgical interventions and other aspects of their care

CMS Changing CLIA Proficiency Testing Regulations
Staff and administrators of some clinical laboratories will have rules changes to keep up with in the months ahead as Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) proficiency testing regulations take effect.

New Guidance on Your Facility Demographic Report
To help your organization meet requirements for completing Facility Demographic Reports (FDRs), Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) is providing guidance.

Changes to Know for Clinical Laboratories
COVID-19 tests and cholera testing remain current topics. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a bulletin about a COVID-19 test recall and has approved four more at-home antigen tests.

Critical Access Hospitals: Coordinating Food Preparation and Storage
Checking a box or making a call sends a meal to a patient in a Critical Access Hospital. But long before delivery, intricate collaboration takes place between departments to ensure food, infant formula, breast milk,and supplements are stored and prepared safely to support all ages and nutritional needs.

Preparing for the End of the COVID-19 PHE
On January 30, 2023, the Biden administration announced that the COVID-19 national emergency and Public Health Emergency will end on May 11, 2023. What does this mean for health care provider and supplier organizations that have come under CMS blanket waivers and enforcement discretion?