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Ambulatory Safety Monitor

This e-mail newsletter reports news regarding occupational and patient safety for surgical centers and doctor´s offices, as well as offers tips and advice on billing, staffing, and procurement procedures.

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Ambulatory Safety Monitor

Issue 42, October 19, 2006

• Bariatric surgery may soon be scalpel-free

  Stomach-stapling surgery will soon be done with a tube inserted through the mouth rather than...

• Please future JCAHO surveyors with a ready-to-go kit

  Want to start off on the right foot during your next unannounced survey? Present your surveyor with...

• Obese women may be at risk during breast reconstruction surgery

  A greater number of complications following breast reconstruction surgery occur with women who are...

Issue 41, October 12, 2006

• CA dermatologists find potential skin cancers at the LPGA

  During an LPGA tour event this week, California volunteer dermatologists screened those in the golf...

• Follow these seven steps to find success with your annual PPR

  Beginning January 1, ambulatory care facilities were required to perform an annual Periodic...

• While popular, not all lip augmentation fillers are safe

  The injectible fillers for lip augmentation, a popular procedure for those who want to look...

Issue 39, September 28, 2006

• Surgery can help repair the emotional and physical impacts of breast asymmetry

  Teens with asymmetrical breasts can correct the issue with common plastic surgery...

• Checking diploma validity is important

  When credentialing a new physician, you may think that a copy of a physician's medical school...

• JCAHO and NQF announce awards

  Last week, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the...

Issue 38, September 21, 2006

• JCAHO partners with infection control leaders

  The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) announced a partnership...

• Don't neglect competency assessment for temps

  To deal with the shortage of healthcare professionals, many ambulatory care facilities turn to...

• Herbal remedies prior to surgery prove safety risk

  A new study published in this month’s Anesthesiology highlights the risk for doctors and...

Issue 37, September 14, 2006

• A viscious circle: Doctor distress and errors

  The errors that lead to physician distress make the occurrence of further errors due to the...

• Tips to overcome a credentialing challenge

  Credentialing and privileging physicians is an essential part of any facility's operations and is...

• Group forms to promote standard quality measurement in ambulatory surgery center

  Leaders from the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry and associations chose to focus on...

Issue 36, September 7, 2006

• Concern and doubt raised over drug-coated heart stents

  Drug-coated heart stents-the tubes used to keep open coronary arteries-may in some cases lead to...

• Create a practical policy that meets standard 9.J

  Standard 9.J in the Anesthesia Services chapter of the 2006 Accreditation Handbook for Ambulatory...

• Joint Commission issues alert on emergency electrical power system failures

  The Joint Comission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) issued a Sentinel Event...

Issue 35, August 31, 2006

• JCAHO updates and posts sentinel event statistics

  The Joint Commission posted its latest sentinel event statistics in the August edition of the "This...

• Track and analyze trends to maintain JCAHO compliance

  Demonstrating to the JCAHO that you track and analyze performance trends, and therefore meet the...

• New strain of drug-resistant bacterial infections on the rise

  Foodconsumer.org highlights a study published August 17 by the New England Journal of Medicine with...

Issue 33, August 17, 2006

• Surgical specialists less likely to disclose medical errors

  Surgical specialists are less likely than medical specialists to explicitly tell a patient about a...

• Communicate to involve patients in their own care

  To meet the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organization’s new patient...

• FDA seeks feedback on medical device identifiers

  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently accepting comments from the public on a...

Issue 32, August 10, 2006

• Earlier scheduling may prevent anesthesia complications

  A recent study conducted at Duke University suggests scheduling surgery earlier in the day may help...

• Incorporate site identification into anesthesia provider contracts

  Before an anesthesia provider performs a service at your facility, you will need to negotiate a...

• Researchers developing realistic surgery simulator

  Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are developing a surgery simulator, similar to...

Issue 31, August 3, 2006

• Bariatric surgery patients at high risk for complications

  Bariatric surgery patients are more likely to experience complications from surgeries over...

• Investigate the root cause of a medication error

  The investigation may be the most important phase of handling a medication error because it can...

• Florida board rejects tougher penalties for wrong-site surgery

  After a year of study, Florida’s state medical licensing board has decided against tougher...

Issue 30, July 28, 2006

• IOM: 1.5 million injured by medication errors annually

  Medication errors, or adverse drug events (ADEs), harm 1.5 million people annually, and the...

• Involve anesthesiologists in correct-site identification

  Your anesthesia provider should participate in the correct-site verification process at least twice...

• Ambulatory, hospital groups promote healthcare quality

  Two healthcare quality organizations, the Ambulatory Care Quality Alliance (AQA) and the Hospital...

Issue 29, July 20, 2006

• Illinois to require e-prescribing to eliminate prescription errors

  Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has announced an initiative to eliminate prescription errors...

• Use color codes to identify correct-site surgery

  During an ophthalmologic procedure, the patient's face is usually covered in its entirety with only...

• Activist runs surgical-fire prevention Web site

  Catherine Lake, the daughter of a woman who was injured in a surgical fire, has created a Web site...

Issue 28, July 13, 2006

• Insufficient informed consent cited in malpractice verdict

  A New York jury awarded a patient who suffered complications from vision correction laser surgery...

• APIC launches infection prevention Web site

  The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and Tyco...

• Report operational changes to avoid losing accreditation

  Significant operational changes can affect your ASC’s ability to provide safe care, which is...

Issue 26, June 29, 2006

• Washington bans cursive writing for prescriptions

  Physicians in Washington state can no longer use cursive writing when filling prescriptions...

• Washington bans cursive writing for prescriptions

  Physicians in Washington state can no longer use cursive writing when filling prescriptions...

• Use checkboxes to standardize handoff communication

  To meet the challenge of standardizing an approach to handoff communication

• Use checkboxes to standardize handoff communication

  To meet the challenge of standardizing an approach to handoff communication-one of the Joint...

• Study shows nearly half of nurses stuck by contaminated needle

  Needlestick injuries "affect the vast majority of nurses," according to a study released June 15 by...

• Study shows nearly half of nurses stuck by contaminated needle

  Needlestick injuries "affect the vast majority of nurses," according to a study released June 15 by...

• Study shows nearly half of nurses stuck by contaminated needle

  Needlestick injuries "affect the vast majority of nurses," according to a study released June 15 by...

• Study shows nearly half of nurses stuck by contaminated needle

  Needlestick injuries "affect the vast majority of nurses," according to a study released June 15 by...

Issue 25, June 22, 2006

• ISMP, FDA campaign to reduce medication errors

  The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA...

• Avoid batch processing of lab specimens

  Recent studies have shown that the labeling of a lab specimen at the time it is collected from the...

• AORN seeks public feedback on reducing radiological exposure

  The Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) has posted "Recommended Practices for...

Issue 24, June 15, 2006

• JCAHO releases 2007 National Patient Safety Goals for ASCs

  The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Monday announced its...

• Establish a dissemination policy for critical test results

  When critical test results arrive, you must have a policy in place to ensure they reach the correct...

• June 21 is National Time Out Day

  The Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) will focus on the Joint Commission on...

Issue 23, June 8, 2006

• Failing to follow time-out policy costs anesthesiology practice

  A St. Louis County jury recently awarded a patient who had arthroscopic surgery performed on the...

• Use a uniform pain scale

  Because pain is subjective, when assessing a patient’s pain, it is important to use a uniform...

• Software educates patients before procedure

  Parkridge Medical Center and Parkridge East Hospital in Tennessee have implemented the Patient...

Issue 22, June 1, 2006

• JCAHO warns about hand gel fire risks

  The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has issued an alert about...

• Senators propose patient-safety centered malpractice bill

  Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL) outlined a plan in the May 25 New...

• Involve patient in identifying site of surgery

  To accurately identify the surgical site and procedure, involve the patient in the process. It is...

Issue 20, May 18, 2006

• 2007 National Patient Safety Goals may take softer approach

  Refinement of existing requirements, rather than bold new initiatives, may be the direction the...

• Collect external information to ensure physician reappointment

  Gather information from outside sources regarding a practitioner's practice during his or her last...

• Research highlights ways to improve patient safety

  The latest issue of Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society contains...

Issue 19, May 11, 2006

• Nurse survey finds increased awareness of patient safety

  Nurses are increasingly focused on improving patient safety, according to a report by Nursing2006...

• Premier provides sharp safety tool kit

  Premier, Inc., an alliance of healthcare organizations and not-for-profit hospitals, has posted a...

• Incorporate patient data in the record before surgery

  If you're confused about when the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC...

Issue 18, May 5, 2006

• Nurses rate first, surgeons last in OR teamwork

  Surgeons exhibit the lowest level of teamwork and nurses the highest in the operating room (OR...

• Improve reporting of critical test results

  The first step to putting in place an effective system for reporting critical test results is to...

• Screensavers raise staff awareness

  Informational screensavers can help raise employee awareness and improve overall communication...

Issue 17, April 28, 2006

• HHS provides pandemic tool for medical practices

  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and...

• Avoid confusion from color-coded patient wristbands

  To avoid confusion that could lead to patient safety errors, consider the following tips when using...

• ASA tackles anesthesia awareness

  In its latest advisory, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) seeks to educate patients...

Issue 15, April 13, 2006

• JCAHO issues sentinel alert on tubing misconnections

  The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has issued a sentinel...

• Developing a detailed infection control plan

  There are several elements that you should review as part of your infection control plan, including...

Issue 14, April 6, 2006

• Study: Patients rank U.S. last on safety

  Despite having the highest healthcare expenditures per capita, the U.S. ranked last in patient...

• Understanding employee TB screening procedures for low-risk settings

  Depending on your ambulatory surgery center’s (ASC) tuberculosis (TB) risk assessment, you...

• JCAHO updates NPSG FAQs

  The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has updated its online...

Issue 13, March 30, 2006

• AHRQ launches Web-based tool for states

  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently released an interactive Web-based...

• Tips for selecting a referral nurse

  If your center is having problems following up with and contacting patients who were sent for...

• AORN cartoon tests perioperative knowledge

  In 2005, the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) held a contest asking members to...

Issue 11, March 16, 2006

• NQF, NCQHC announce merger

  Two influential national quality organizations, the National Quality Forum (NQF) and the National...

• Supplement H&P with patient interviews for preoperative assessments

  Sometimes a patient’s history and physical (H&P) may not be sufficient for a thorough...

• AAAASF launches for-profit subsidiary

  The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) has launched a...

Issue 10, March 9, 2006

• Study: Herbal supplements pose cosmetic surgery risk

  Widespread use of herbal supplements among cosmetic surgery patients may pose a safety risk during...

• Create a checklist for recredentialing anesthesia providers

  Because the recredentialing of various anesthesia providers will come at different times and the...

• ASA offers new patient education tool

  The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has developed a patient education tool to answer...

Issue 9, March 2, 2006

• AHRQ seeks feedback on Patient Safety Act

  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has placed the Patient Safety and Quality...

• Ensure completion of mandatory activities with tracking checklists

  One of the many challenges of running an organization is punctually completing all of the...

• NPSF promotes Patient Safety Awareness Week

  The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) is encouraging healthcare organizations across the...

Issue 8, February 23, 2006

• Medicare to cover obesity surgery

  Medicare has agreed to pay for three forms of bariatric surgery at centers that have been certified...

• Strengthen peer review process by observing physicians on six indicators

  Historically, the peer review process has focused on reviewing medical records, says Barbara Ann...

• Organizations seek submissions for safety awards

  The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the National Quality...

Issue 7, February 16, 2006

• NQF releases patient safety framework

  The National Quality Forum (NQF) has released a nationally standardized classification system for...

• NQF releases patient safety framework

  The National Quality Forum (NQF) has released a nationally standardized classification system for...

• NQF releases patient safety framework

  The National Quality Forum (NQF) has released a nationally standardized classification system for...

• NQF releases patient safety framework

  The National Quality Forum (NQF) has released a nationally standardized classification system for...

• Draft first-dose response requirements

  JCAHO standard M.M.6.10 requires that your ambulatory facility have a process for monitoring...

• JCAHO video explains unannounced surveys

  In order to better explain its decision to perform all regular accreditation surveys on an...

Issue 6, February 9, 2006

• Report calls for research, education about silicone implants

  Breast cancer survivors who undergo reconstructive surgery using silicone implants have very little...

• Use safe practices in labeling drugs

  Your facility may have medication management techniques that work, but you should always seek out...

• AAOS offers safety checklists for ASCs

  In order to create an environment of "safety conciousness" in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs...

Issue 5, February 2, 2006

• JCAHO announces medication reconciliation Sentinel Event

  The JCAHO released a new Sentinel Event Alert last week, citing continued problems with medication...

• Fulfilling new AAAHC standard 9.W

  When the AAAHC updated its standards for 2006, one area undergoing a notable change was Chapter 9...

• Society offers health history checklist

  The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is offering a medical history checklist patients...

Issue 4, January 26, 2006

• Patients should ask questions to determine cosmetic surgeon qualifications

  The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic...

• Seeing the benefits of using standards and compliance checklists

  The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to assess your compliance with accreditation...

• Article challenges states to create physician monitoring system

  An article in the January 17 Annals of Internal Medicine outlines plans for states to create...

Issue 3, January 19, 2006

• Anesthesia duration not linked to risk for outpatient facial plastic surgery

  A new study shows the time patients spend under anesthesia during outpatient facial plastic surgery...

• Examine transfers as part of peer-review process

  Analyzing transfers as part of your peer-review process is important because it can indicate...

• New breast implant surgery Web site launches

  The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons...

Issue 2, January 12, 2006

• Debate continues on safety, options for obesity surgery

  The debate about the risks and effects of obesity surgery continues despite significant progress in...

• JCAHO's Ambulatory Audio Advisor series accessible online

  The Joint Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) recently held a...

• Who can perform AAAHC peer-review?

  Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care's (AAAHC) standard 2.B.3b says "current...

Issue 1, January 5, 2006

• JCAHO still seeking comments on new National Patient Safety Goals

  The Joint Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is still accepting...

• Consider these medication management best practices

  Your facility may have medication management techniques that work, but you should always seek out...

• AHRQ brochure educates patients about surgery

  In keeping with overall efforts to include patients in the medical decision-making process, the...