Healthcare Risk Management – July 1, 2010
July 1, 2010
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Off-peak hours threaten patient safety, require more vigilance from RM
A risk manager would never want to sit down with a family and try to explain that their loved one was harmed because the patient was treated in the middle of the night or on a Saturday, when standards are lower and risks are higher. But that could be the truth in some facilities, where patients are at higher risk during off-peak hours. -
HRM wins first place in SIPA awards
Healthcare Risk Management was awarded first place in the category of "Best Instructional Reporting" by the Specialized Information Publishing Association. -
Gather data properly to study off-peak danger
Data gathering is key to reducing the risks associated with off-peak hours, says Patti Hamilton, PhD, RN, graduate studies at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX. But the data must be gathered and analyzed in a way that doesn't obscure the information about off-peak hours. -
Education can falter for off-peak staff
One potential cause of danger in off-peak hours is that those staff may not receive the same level of education on important issues from the employer... -
Wrong phone numbers threaten patient safety
Sometimes, it is the simplest thing that can trip you up and create a liability risk, not to mention a huge hassle for your staff. -
Tips for avoiding wrong phone numbers
Avoiding the wrong phone number problem begins during the intake process... -
TJC counsel underscores privacy commitment
The Joint Commission (TJC) is underscoring its commitment to keep accreditation records confidential and its willingness to resist prosecutors' requests as far as the law will allow. -
Procedures, technology can prevent retained items
Retained items in surgery are a constant risk in the OR, and there still is no perfect solution. -
Counts are good, but not enough, study finds
Counts are an essential tool for reducing the number of retained items in surgery, but they should be augmented with other strategies, according to one recent study. -
Better patient safety means fewer claims
It may seem intuitive, and risk managers certainly hoped it was true, but a new study showing a direct correlation between improved patient safety and a reduction in malpractice claims is still welcome news. -
Legal Review & Commentary: California Jury Awards $12M to Woman With Brain Injury From Air Rifle
A young woman presented to the emergency department (ED) of a hospital after being shot in the head with an air pellet rifle. Almost half an hour passed between the time the woman was seen by the ED nurse and the time the nurse informed the ED physician of the woman's condition. -
Legal Review & Commentary: Florida regs to counter "pill mills"
A Florida woman was awarded $36 million by a jury in May after a pain management physician allegedly botched a steroid injection damaging the woman's spinal cord.