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The Joint Commission recently posted the following answer to a frequent asked question on catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
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Late in her pregnancy and fearful of the flu vaccine, the nurse wanted to hold off on immunization. At her hospital, though, the flu vaccine was mandatory. Get the shot or lose your job, her supervisor told her.
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The Joint Commission targets central lineassociated bloodstream infections in its 2011 national patient safety goals, with NPSG.07.04.01 calling for hospitals to "implement evidence-based practices to prevent (CLABSIs)."
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After his cheek was fractured when a patient smashed a fist into his jaw in the emergency department, Jeaux Rinehart, RN, BSN, PHN, figured he'd had enough. He worked for 32 years as an emergency room nurse and loved it, but finally he could no longer tolerate patients hitting, yelling, cursing, or spitting at him.
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Safe patient handling has been a hallmark of employee health. But perhaps it should also be a rallying point for patient safety advocates.
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The elements of performance for the CAUTI prevention safety goal are as follows:
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Injury reports don't tell the whole story about hazards in the hospital. The best way to find out what you need to know is to talk to employees.
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Imagine this scenario: A nurse has soreness and back pain related to patient handling and other work duties. A certified athletic trainer recommends a regimen of stretching and exercises to reduce the pain. Does that make the injury recordable?
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Hospitals are places of high emotion and drama, of pain and fear, of last resort, and sometimes of desperation. In this patient-centered world, there has been a high tolerance of aggressive or explosive behavior. But not anymore.
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The Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has issued its Work Plan for 2012, indicating what areas will be of most interest for investigations and enforcement action. Much of the work plan involves a greater focus on the new issues raised by the changes introduced by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)
