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Since 1995, the Joint Commission has received reports of seven deaths or injuries related to bedrails, leading the accrediting body to issue a warning about this hazard.
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Potentially deadly medication errors are so common that a typical 300-bed hospital experiences 40 every day, according to a new report.
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News: A female hospital patient accused a male patient of sexually assaulting her. She brought a civil action against the health care providers and criminal suit against the other patient.
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Two of a risk managers constant worries can become one major problem if you dont set up your on-call program correctly, cautions an attorney who has seen hospitals run afoul of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) because doctors refused to come to the hospital when called.
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It appears the Oakbrook Terrace, IL- based Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has heard all the wailing by hospitals across the country and is announcing a major overhaul of the survey process. Under the new system, the accreditation process is supposed to be more relevant to actual patient care and less of a hassle.
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Despite a work force shortage that contributes to medical errors, 90% of poll respondents at a national gathering of hospital patient safety experts said they believe their organizations have made a credible effort to improve patient safety. More than a third of the respondents said that hospital pharmacies are addressing patient safety the best within their organizations.
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The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently approved a plan that calls for smallpox immunization of 510,000 health care workers.
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News: An orthopedic surgeon with a history of cocaine abuse operated on a patient and severed a nerve root. During the patients recovery from surgery, the orthopedists drug use became public knowledge, and he resigned from the medical staff. No other physician was assigned to the patient until follow-up surgery was performed.
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The federal governments plan for vaccinating key health care workers against smallpox immediately set off warning bells for risk managers. Though it appears the risk for health care providers wont be as bad as some initially feared, that doesnt mean you can take the smallpox vaccinations lightly.
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Reducing the risks in an environment as complex as the emergency department requires the support and involvement of decision makers at all levels of the organization. Despite the complexity of emergency department (ED) liability, sometimes a review of the basics can greatly reduce your risk and improve patient safety.
