Eyewash stations and emergency showers are critical safety features when staff work with corrosive or injurious materials. However, ACHC Accreditation surveys consistently show confusion…
Did you know that U.S. hospitals use restraints in nearly 2 million patient episodes every year? While physical restraint is always intended…
Each year, the Quality Review edition of Surveyor identifies and analyzes the most challenging standards for ACHC-accredited hospitals. Overall, this year’s…
Workplace violence in healthcare settings is a growing concern, with increasing reports of patients and visitors causing harm to staff…
Amy Antonacci, MSN, RN, is a Senior Standards Interpretation Specialist for ACHC Hospital Accreditation (Acute Care and Critical Access). She also…
ACHC Standards are structured to align with a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement framework. Within each chapter, standards identify…
Questions posed during ACHCU’s monthly Coffee Chat live webinar often serve to reveal opportunities to extend education and develop additional resources for ACHC-accredited hospitals. In March 2025, the topic was medical record documentation.
From a facilities perspective, protecting patient and staff safety are the hospital’s biggest priority. To ensure this safety, all aspects of the facility must be constructed, arranged, and maintained to meet a range of regulations.
Advance directives rank among the most important legal documents in the healthcare setting. They come into use when a patient is incapacitated and cannot provide informed consent for care or cannot actively participate in care planning. Among the various types of advance directives, the most common in the healthcare setting are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health 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.