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CMS revises interpretive guidelines in infection control

Briefings on The Joint Commission, March 1, 2008

This is an excerpt from a member only article. To read the article in its entirety, please login or subscribe to Briefings on The Joint Commission.

Editor's note: Sue Dill Calloway, RN, MSN, JD, director of hospital risk management for OHIC Insurance Company, The Doctor's Company, in Columbus, OH, is the CMS Corner lead contributor. Submit a topic idea to her by contacting BOJ Managing Editor Matt Phillion at mphillion@hcpro.com. Any hospital that accepts Medicare and Medicaid patients must follow the hospital Conditions of Participation (CoP) that are promulgated by CMS. These regulations must be followed for all patients, not just Medicare patients. New infection control interpretive guidelines recently revised by CMS have been designated as A standards, so they do not apply to critical access hospitals unless the facility has a separate rehab or behavioral health unit. Infection control is a very important area in today's healthcare environment. Hospitals should ensure that they have a qualified and competent infection control nurse, infection control coordinator, infection control professional, or hospital epidemiologist. The board and senior leadership should make sure there is adequate staffing and resources to get the job done.

This is an excerpt from a member only article. To read the article in its entirety, please login or subscribe to Briefings on The Joint Commission.

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