Hospital Peer Review – March 1, 2003
March 1, 2003
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U.S. congressman calls for OIG investigation of Joint Commission
An influential congressman is calling for a broad investigation of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), alleging that the accrediting body is ineffective, torn by conflicts of interest, and rife with financial improprieties. -
Congressman says, ‘Make JCAHO a federal contractor’
Conflict of interest is such an inherent flaw in the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations structure that the federal government should take over the responsibility and make the accrediting body a contractor, says U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA). -
JCAHO issues alert on nosocomial infections
Several important changes were announced to Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health-care Organizations surveyors at a recent training session in Chicago, including new definitions for some types of sentinel events. -
Diabetes QI program cuts complications by 60%
Quality improvement projects can be especially challenging if you try to implement them on a systemwide basis across many health care institutions, but a diabetes project in Iowa shows that it can be done if you give people the tools and let individual organizations decide how best to use them. -
JCAHO, NCQA form human research quality group
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) have announced the formation of the Partnership for Human Research Protection (PHRP) to offer a new accreditation program that will seek to protect the safety and rights of participants in clinical trials and research programs in public and private hospitals, academic medical centers, and other research facilities in the United States and abroad. -
The Quality-Cost Connection: Prevent communication breakdowns
Patient safety can be jeopardized when the transitions or handoffs that occur during patient care are not managed effectively. Many errors come from slips that occur during the exchange of materials, people, and/or supplies. -
AHRQ: Autopsies helpful in improving quality
Autopsies can detect clinically important diagnostic discrepancies and help an organization improve the quality of care, according to a new report released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). -
Stroke care improved with use of clot busters
Quality of care is improved significantly when emergency department (ED) physicians are allowed to deliver clot-busting drugs to appropriate stroke patients without waiting for dedicated stroke teams, according to a new study. -
Patient Satisfaction Planner: Employee-centered focus sets this system apart
The lofty vision of Baptist Health Care Corp. of Pensacola, FL, is to be the best health system in America. It may well be on its way. According to one authoritative source, Baptist Health may at the very least be the best health care employer in the entire country. -
Patient Satisfaction Planner: EDs report success with service guarantees
Imagine promising that every patient who walks through the door of your emergency department (ED) will be seen in 15 minutes. -
Patient Satisfaction Planner: Patients want quality, quantity time with PTs
Conventional wisdom - and indeed, much literature - supports the idea that satisfied patients are impressed with short waiting times, good parking, convenient locations, and sophisticated equipment.