Hospital Peer Review articles from October 2004

Hospital Peer Review archives from October 2004

New 2005 patient safety goals are here: don't delay in developing strategies: a collaborative, consistent approach is key to avoiding problems.
October 1, 2004... During your next survey by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), it's unknown where surveyors will go, which staff members they'll speak to, and which patients will be traced. But one thing is certain:...

Why did 2005 safety goals omit bar coding? New autoidentification systems are on the horizon.
October 1, 2004... The finalized 2005 National Patient Safety Goals of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) bore a close resemblance to the proposed goals announced earlier, with one notable exception: The elimination of the...

Bill would increase CMS' authority over JCAHO: law would end JCAHO's special regulatory status.(Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)
October 1, 2004... (Editor's note: This is the second in a two-part series on the recent General Accounting Office report on the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Last month, we covered the report's controversial findings and the...

How to create and monitor your measures of success: consider each step in the process.
October 1, 2004... Unless your organization is lucky enough to be found 100% compliant after your next survey by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) or after completing the periodic performance review, you'll have to address...

Clinic serves as a model for care of the uninsured: volunteers play key role.(Discharge Planning Advisor[R]: the update for improving continuity of care)
October 1, 2004... * Accelerated discharge * Staff cooperation * Placement strategies * Reimbursement * Legal issues * Case management In April 2002, Donna Zazworsky, MS, RN, CCM, FAAN, director of grants, partnerships, and policy at...

Uninsured cases increase in number, complexity: 'we try to educate them'.(Discharge Planning Advisor[R]: the update for improving continuity of care)
October 1, 2004... Arranging care for uninsured and underinsured patients has become more complicated in the past four or five years, says Jennifer DeCamp, MSW, LSW, a social worker at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago. "It seems there are more patients...

JCAHO surveyors focus on life safety code compliance: survey fees to increase next year.(Discharge Planning Advisor[R]: the update for improving continuity of care)
October 1, 2004... As of Jan. 1, 2005, hospitals will be paying an estimated $2700 more in average triennial survey fees. This is due to the need to make further investments in the new accreditation process that was introduced this year, according to the Joint...

Manage organizational fear to improve safety: what are the people in your organization afraid of?(The Quality--Co$t Connection)
October 1, 2004... Patient safety experts advocate elimination of fear in the workplace so staff members can more effectively identify and resolve safety concerns. The elimination of fear is necessary to create an environment of trust and cooperation, essential...

CE questions.
October 1, 2004... 13. Which is a key recommendation of a National Patient Safety Goal requiring that medications be reconciled across the continuum of care? A. Electronic medical records cannot be used to comply. B. The goal only applies to inpatients....

JCAHO panel to assist with cultural issues.(Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has appointed an expert panel to assist in a study of hospitals' efforts to address cultural and linguistic issues that affect patient care. The 2 1/2-year study will...

'Safety culture' approach guides health system's efforts: health system takes cue from manufacturing world.
October 1, 2004... It's not that unusual these days to find health care professionals modeling their performance improvement efforts on proven strategies from the world of business. It is, however, unique to find a health care system's safety culture taking its...