Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – July 1, 2011
July 1, 2011
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CMS planning infection control inspections of U.S. hospitals
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) the single largest payer for health care in the United States is creating a hospital inspection program focused specifically on infection control, Hospital Infection Control & Prevention has learned. -
CMS tool for hospitals will go beyond ASC survey
A survey tool to assess infection control in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) was created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for use by inspectors for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. -
Patient partnership hits ground running
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is creating an infection control inspection survey for hospitals as part of its participation in the recently formed Partnership for Patients. -
'Owning' the problem drives CLABSIs to zero
There has been so much hoopla about driving central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) down to zero with checklists and bundles, that a unit that fails to achieve such success may take it somewhat personal. -
IPs save over $100,000 by using ... duct tape?
OK, maybe duct tape really can fix everything. A simple red roll of this prime tool in the kit of every weekend repairman led to some rather startling results for innovative infection preventionists. -
'Dignity': IPs kick UTIs out of rehab
UTIs have been termed the Rodney Dangerfield of infections, out of a skewed perception that they are easy to treat and have relatively little clinical consequence. -
OSHA targets outpatient areas for needle safety
Outpatient care centers have historically attracted little attention from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, although needle market data show they have lagged in sharps safety and been a recurrent source of hepatitis outbreaks among patients. -
SHEA updates scope reprocessing guidelines
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) have updated their 2003 joint guideline for reprocessing gastrointestinal endoscopes to reaffirm reprocessing methods and take into account evolved technology and disinfection systems.