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Fall Prevention Always Is a Concern; Innovative Products Help

There has been progress in fall prevention, but there is much more room for improvement. Some organizations are finding success with innovative products that can help reduce falls.

Medical Record Retention Requires Good Policies, Strict Compliance

Records retention is a critical issue for risk managers, as the loss of important patient records and other documents could compromise litigation defense and threaten ongoing care. Healthcare organizations must create clear records retention policies and follow them closely, experts say.

HHS, CMS Easing Some Abuse Rules, Will Reduce Compliance Burden

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are trying to reduce regulatory burdens on healthcare organizations with rule changes that would protect some activities from anti-kickback allegations. The changes are intended to promote value-based care.

Surgeon Sues Health System for ‘Forced Referrals’

A Florida health system is facing a whistleblower lawsuit from a surgeon alleging the system violated federal law by requiring him to perform surgery and refer patients within its own facilities. The surgeon claims the health system fired him for not complying with the policy. The mandatory self-referrals violate the Physician Self-Referral Law and other statutes, the lawsuit claims.

Can Telemedicine Deliver High-Quality Geriatric Care to Rural EDs?

More than 100 U.S. EDs that have achieved some level of credit through the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) program. These EDs have taken specific steps to better meet the needs of older patients who present to the ED according to Geriatric Emergency Department Guidelines, established in 2013. However, recognizing that smaller, rural hospitals often do not have the training or resources to meet GEDA standards, researchers are determining if telemedicine technology can be leveraged to make this accreditation available to these facilities.

The Case Manager’s Toolbox: The Essential Skills of an Effective Case Manager, Part 1

RN case managers and social workers are key advocates in the delivery of quality healthcare. Their broad skills and training allow them to assess patients’ needs and work well with families and other members of the healthcare team. Negotiating, collaborating, communicating, team-building, precepting, educating, and consulting are the basis of what a successful case manager brings to the care setting each day. This month will begin a discussion of the skill sets every case manager and social worker should possess to be as effective in the role as possible.

Consent Library Is Consistent With Quick Access to Better Wording

Dedicated editors help a research program manage an informed consent library of terms that can be included in consent forms as a substitute for medical/scientific language.

Protocol Activation Model Leads to Reduction in Time-to-IRB Approval

A large cancer research institution in New York City overhauled its protocol review process, devised a library of scientific terms commonly used in consent forms, and invested in more staff. Within a couple of years, the updated process resulted in a striking reduction in the median time for protocol and consent review by the IRB. Time-to-IRB approval decreased from 135 days in 2017 to 80 days in 2018.

Consent Calendar for Continuing Reviews Can Save IRB Meeting Time

The consent calendar is a century-old tool, but it can work well in saving time during IRB meetings. Typically, IRBs review each study up for continuing review, discussing and voting for each, separately. But that might not be the most efficient way to handle these on the board meeting agenda.

IRB Devises Efficient, Time-Saving Annual Review Process

Continuing review might have gone away for many studies, but a research protection program’s responsibilities have not. This is why many IRBs have devised an alternative annual review process that combines workflow efficiency with enhanced research protection. One model for this regular review is an annual status report. Minimum risk, expedited review, and some additional studies do not need to go through the annual continuing review by the IRB, but they can be monitored through this review.