Hospital Peer Review – May 1, 2006
May 1, 2006
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JCAHO will want evidence that physicians are involved in safety
If a Joint Commission surveyor asked a physician at your organization about patient safety initiatives or recently performed root cause analyses, would the surveyor get a detailed, enthusiastic response or a blank look? -
Core measure compliance gets better with CPOE
There is a big difference between implementing computerized physician order entry (CPOE) and doing so with clinical decision support systems in place, emphasizes Margaret Quinn, MD, chief medical information officer at Neptune, NJ-based Meridian Health. -
JCAHO looking closely at medication reconciliation
An intensive care unit nurse recorded a patients daily dose of an antipsychotic agent as 25 mg a day, but the actual dose was one-half a 25 mg tablet. As a result, the patient received a double dosage within 12 hours and became lethargic and confused, resulting in an additional day of hospitalization for observation. -
JCAHO award for stroke measures compliance
At Seattle-based Swedish Medical Center, stroke outcomes improved dramatically as a result of a comprehensive program that deploys a coordinated team to assure comprehensive, timely, and efficient acute stroke care. -
New NPSGs for 2007 will be big challenge
The JCAHOs proposed National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) for 2007 arent a big surprise but will pose additional challenges for quality professionals. -
The Quality Cost Connection: Manage staff fatigue to improve patient safety
Worker fatigue can adversely impact every aspect of health care performance. High levels of fatigue cause reduced productivity and an increased risk of adverse events. Fatigued caregivers may not think clearly, which is vital to making patient care decisions.