HCPro.com: Hospital Safety Center

Health care facilities face new requirements by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) this year. Is your facility ready? Be prepared with Briefings on Hospital Safety, the monthly newsletter that's full of the latest information on environment of care standards as well how to comply with other agency regulations, including OSHA and the EPA.

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March 2008 (Volume 16, Issue 3)	view entire issue

Beyond patients, MRSA is a big employee concern, too
Mandated protection from Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isn't just for patients anymore. Some states have crafted bills that include healthcare worker safeguards to avoid the nasty staph infection. The Health Professionals and Allied Employees union threw the spotlight on the issue by endorsing New Jersey S2580, a bill that mandates patient screening for MRSA and requires hospital infection control to report to state health authorities to check up on how they're controlling the super bug.

Plug up potential legal liabilities in your disaster plans
Safety managers have a new rule to follow when it comes to ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilizers, thanks to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The new regulation requires the following actions: Make sure to run full loads in EtO sterilizers Run partial sterilizer loads if it's medically necessary to do so Document every sterilizer load, and when loads aren't full, note the medical reasons and who authorized them

Data-driven safety reports comb for every incident
It takes a little time to set up, but Lisa Greenlund, CHSP, ARM, can testify that well-organized safety data makes it easier to zero in on safety issues. Greenlund, the director of risk management and safety at Kent Hospital in Warwick, RI, also says a well-organized data package makes it easier and quicker to demonstrate the progress of safety initiatives to administrators, surveyors, and inspectors. At her hospital, colleagues collect incident reports, which is the main driver of safety efforts. The goal is to address every incident within 30 days, document progress when it's resolved, and confirm that it stays resolved during regular safety rounds. It also provides specific agenda items for meetings with hospital EC and quality committees.

Hospital focus continues on disaster preparedness
With The Joint Commission's (formerly JCAHO) new emergency standards, hospitals are going to continue to see a major emphasis on making sure their facilities are ready to face any disaster. Among the challenges they face, security directors will be required to make emergency drills realistic. As security directors study up on this year's emergency management standards, we offer the following tips to help them prepare.

Other recently-published articles from Hospital Safety Center:

Healthcare’s "dirty little secret" can create a big security challenge

Ten tips to prepare for a surge in pediatric patients

Specialty hospital recovers after document slipups

Hospitals live through Ike and Gustav and tell you what they learned about emergency preparations

Peel apart the distinctions of the 2009 EC standards

Upcoming EtO sterilizer rule takes effect in December

Organize disaster drills with a new, free government tool

For two hospitals, moving patients to new buildings offers a chance to fine-tune their evacuation plans

Patient suicides thrust prevention into a harsh spotlight

New clarifications, changed wording create challenges in 2009 life safety chapter

Ten ways to boost the value of your safety committee

Asbestos violations add up to a possible $110,000 fine

Your emergency plans must anticipate utility disruption

Plane crash tabletop highlights emergency prep session

Hospital’s water loss offers insight for disaster prep

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