The Joint Commission has released its latest Sentinel Event Alert targeting anticoagulant use and medical errors. This is the fourth alert The Joint Commission has issued this year. There have been a number of high-profile medical errors involving anticoagulants in the national media, and The Joint Commission’s alert is intended to offer methods for preventing further errors. This is not the first time The Joint Commission has targeted anticoagulants. Requirements introduced into the 2008 National Patient Safety Goals are set to hit the point of full implementation on January 1, 2009. The Joint Commission also addresses anticoagulants under the medication management standards. Common factors in anticoagulant errors highlighted in The Joint Commission’s report include labeling and packaging issues, documentation errors, communication failures, and inappropriate use of medication. For more information or to view the Sentinel Event Alert itself, go to The Joint Commission’s Web site at here.

New York’s 11 public hospitals have recently begun the move towards standardizing the colors used for hospital wristbands, which distinguish different patient conditions The New York Times reports. Last year, the Greater New York Hospital Association conducted a survey and found that among these hospitals nine different colors were used to denote patients with Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, five to indicate patient allergies, and nine to highlight patient fall risks. The American Hospital Association and 20 states have embraced the color standardization; however, some hospitals, regulators, and media are debating certain issues The Joint Commission is skeptical about the new system, saying that the wristbands will categorize patients by their end-of-life decisions, or involuntarily share the patients’ decision with family and friends. Also, the wristbands are completely voluntary and the patient can ask for colored dots on their chart instead, which may cause confusion for hospital staff members. To read more, click here.

Almost four years after vetoing a similar bill, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed two bills on September 25 requiring CA hospitals to strengthen their efforts in preventing outbreaks of Staphylococcus, reports The Los Angeles Times. . Hospitals will also be required to share their infection rates with the public. Hospitals have had most difficult combating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is spread from patient to patient through unsterile clothing, ventilation systems, surgical equipment or room furnishings. This strain can be fatal, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention an estimated 2 million patients nationwide contract an infection each year, and about 100,000 die. The first bill requests that hospitals test high-risk patients for MRSA within 24 hours of admission while also reporting infection rates to the state. The second bill requires that doctors and medical professionals at hospitals be trained on how to prevent the spread of infections. To read more, click here.

In order to combat the spread of deadly hospital infections, staff members may need more reminding than education sessions and hospital signs. With the help of a company called Arrowsight, hospitals will be able to install video surveillance to help monitor hand-washing adherence while providing hospitals with feedback on employees who do not, reports The Wall Street Journal. Studies have shown that when it comes to complying with hygiene rules, less than 40% in the health care profession actually oblige. Starting this month, Medicare and private insurers will not be covering the extra costs of treating preventable infections, so hospitals may be using technology such as this to take matters into their own hands In a three-month pilot test starting in January 2007, hand washing rates rose from 38% to 90%, and the facility kept this rate for the next nine months. The program is designed to search large volumes of video and is smart enough to catch triggers like whether a staff member has washed his or her hands after entering a room. To read more, click here.

In order to combat the spread of deadly hospital infections, staff members may need more reminding than education sessions and hospital signs. With the help of a company called Arrowsight, hospitals will be able to install video surveillance to help monitor hand-washing adherence while providing hospitals with feedback on employees who do not, reports The Wall Street Journal. Studies have shown that when it comes to complying with hygiene rules, less than 40% in the health care profession actually oblige. Starting this month, Medicare and private insurers will not be covering the extra costs of treating preventable infections, so hospitals may be using technology such as this to take matters into their own hands In a three-month pilot test starting in January 2007, hand washing rates rose from 38% to 90%, and the facility kept this rate for the next nine months. The program is designed to search large volumes of video and is smart enough to catch triggers like whether a staff member has washed his or her hands after entering a room. To read more, click here.

Avoid mistakes in tubing, line, and catheter misconnections   The new video from HCPro, Prevent Tubing Misconnections: Six Steps to Keep Patients Safe addresses the Joint Commission’s Sentinel Event Alert recommendations to reduce complications arising from tubing, line and catheter misconnections. The video depicts six steps nurses can take to avert such mistakes and includes handy pocket cards for caregivers to reference in the field. Provide a fast, easy, and thorough way to keep your staff current and competent. For more information or to order, call 800/650-6787 and mention Source Code EZINEAD or visit HCPro’s Healthcare Marketplace.