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Hospital Safety Connection

Stay on top of hospital safety requirements and best practices with our free, fast-paced weekly update.

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Hospital Safety Connection

Issue 51, December 27, 2006

• New law calls for better hospital surge capacity

  Last week, President Bush signed a bill that in part aims to increase the ability of hospitals and...

• The New Year brings revised safety requirements

  January 1 is a big day for those of you following new Joint Commission requirements.

Issue 50, December 20, 2006

• It’s RIP for the abbreviation "JCAHO"

  Beginning in January, the JCAHO plans to change its name to simply the "Joint Commission."

• A few days left to comment on nursing home sprinklers

  December 26 is the last day to offer your thoughts on a proposed regulation that would require...

Issue 48, December 6, 2006

• The JCAHO solicits your thoughts on 2008 patient safety goals

  Even though we haven't hit 2007 yet, the JCAHO is already looking at potential new National...

• Life safety specialists' role will grow

  The JCAHO announced on December 6 that it will expand its life safety specialists' duties in 2008.

Issue 47, November 29, 2006

• Were you surveyed this year by the JCAHO?

  If your hospital underwent a JCAHO survey in 2006, we’d love for you to participate in a...

• The EPA seeks comments on sterilizer proposal

  A public comment period is open on a proposed regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency...

Issue 46, November 15, 2006

• OSHA updates its avian flu recommendations for workers

  This week, OSHA issued its Guidance Update on Protecting Employees from Avian Flu Viruses, which...

• OSHA and the JCAHO continue their association

  OSHA, the JCAHO, and education affiliate Joint Commission Resources, Inc., have renewed their...

Issue 44, November 2, 2006

• "Green" is good if cleaning products prove effective and safe

  Hospitals should not be so eager to jump onto the "green cleaning" bandwagon if their actions...

• Hospital environment may be harmful to workers

  The indoor environment of your hospital may make your workers sick, according to an October 18...

Issue 43, October 26, 2006

• OSHA seeing red, as in blood, on hospital violations

  Bloodborne pathogens standards citations topped the list of OSHA violations in hospitals, according...

• Healthcare sector second in injuries and illnesses

  Out of all U.S. industries, only manufacturing exceeded healthcare and social assistance in the...

Issue 42, October 11, 2006

• New hospitals will stay in tune with Mother Nature

  With healthcare construction in a boom period, hospitals are taking a serious look at how to...

Issue 41, October 11, 2006

• Survey results detail false alarm perpetrators

  Contractors and staff members are the most likely culprits behind false fire alarms in healthcare...

Issue 39, September 27, 2006

• Gas main break forces an evacuation

  About 100 residents were evacuated from a nursing home in Cincinnati, OH, after construction...

• Electronic SOC receives a partial extension

  The JCAHO published an official delay in parts of its electronic Statement of Conditions (SOC...

Issue 38, September 20, 2006

• Hospital addition will help lab workers, among others

  By the end of 2007, Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus in St. Marys, FL, will have a...

• OSHA seeks comments on hazcom proposal

  OSHA wants to incorporate the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of...

Issue 37, September 13, 2006

• New hazardous waste manifest form in effect

  As of September 5, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all hazardous waste...

• Feds release NIMS activities for hospitals

  On September 12, the Federal Emergency Management Agency formally released provisions for hospitals...

Issue 36, September 6, 2006

• New JCAHO alert focuses on emergency power failures

  Yesterday, the JCAHO issued a new Sentinel Event Alert encouraging hospitals to conduct risk...

Issue 35, August 30, 2006

• Drawings make barrier inspections easier

  We want to pass along a tidbit that we've heard several times from the field and at industry...

• Updated isolation guideline coming soon, the CDC says

  Officially speaking, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hopes to publish revisions to...

• Hospital generator fails during Ernesto

  Tropical Storm Ernesto challenged many healthcare facilities in its path last week, including a...

Issue 34, August 23, 2006

• Threat and powder temporarily close a hospital

  A hospital shut its doors for several hours last Friday after an employee found an envelope...

• Suspect allegedly kills a hospital security officer

  A man being held by police while he awaited trial allegedly shot and killed a hospital security...

Issue 33, August 16, 2006

• Hospital among the sites of a pipe bomb scheme

  The FBI and police in Salem, OR, continued this week to look for suspects who placed four pipe...

• Please take our false alarm survey

  False fire alarms are often a contentious issue in healthcare facilities, particularly if they get...

Issue 32, August 9, 2006

• Brief roof fire occurs at a demolition site

  A hospital tower caught on fire last week as workers readied it for demolition.

• The FDA solicits comments on medical device identification

  In the August 11 Federal Register, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will ask for your...

Issue 31, August 2, 2006

• Prefabrication saves time for new PA hospital

  Officials of a new hospital in Bensalem, PA, hope to have construction done in half the usual time...

• Cell phone limits may be waning

  At least three hospital systems in Cleveland have eased their policies about cell phone use in...

Issue 30, July 26, 2006

• Senate and Medicare program make new disaster prep efforts

  Lawmakers and a federal agency have made the following moves of late related to emergency...

• Hospital almost evacuates after power loss

  Severe storms in the St. Louis area last week nearly forced a hospital to evacuate 240 patients.

Issue 29, July 19, 2006

• Three clinicians face charges in alleged Katrina killings

  In one of the strangest twists following a community disaster, the attorney general in Louisiana...

• Facilities combat flooding, an explosion, and fire

  It was quite the week for hospitals facing unexpected circumstances, as the following incidents...

Issue 28, July 12, 2006

• NC hospital: If workers smoke on-site, they may get pink slips

  A hospital in Concord, NC, has gone smoke-free, and if employees light up on facility grounds, they...

• ASHE will push for electronic SOC accommodations

  The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) plans to formally ask for an extension of a...

• ASHE will push for electronic SOC accommodations

  The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) plans to formally ask for an extension of a...

Issue 27, July 5, 2006

• Irritant forces dozens to decontaminate

  More than 60 customers and employees went to area hospitals after fumes filled parts of a Wal-Mart...

• Floods make hospitals the victims

  Last week's record-breaking floods in the eastern part of the country created problems for all...

Issue 26, June 28, 2006

• Revised emergency drill requirements debut

  On July 1, JCAHO surveyors will begin reviewing hospitals under a revised environment of care (EC...

• Equipment needs surface during a pandemic drill

  A pandemic flu drill held last week in Fort Wayne, IN, turned up an interesting point:

Issue 25, June 21, 2006

• Police find kidnapped infant one day after abduction

  A newborn was safely rescued earlier this month after a woman allegedly kidnapped him from his own...

• Chlorine gas sickens hospital workers

  Six employees at Hartford (CT) Hospital suffered respiratory difficulties last weekend after they...

Issue 24, June 14, 2006

• New JCAHO goal to look at suicide risks

  On Monday, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) announced its...

• CMS isn't sure about 2006 LSC adoption

  At last week's National Fire Protection Association conference in Orlando, FL, a representative...

Issue 23, June 2, 2006

• Transportation regs streamlined for infectious substances

  The federal government released a new rule that revises transportation requirements for infectious...

• NIMS and HEICS are reaching agreement

  With the September 30 deadline approaching for organizations receiving federal emergency...

Issue 22, May 31, 2006

• Patient allegedly starts a hospital fire

  Authorities arrested a psychiatric patient after he allegedly set a room on fire in a hospital.

• Three-year generator test is official

  Starting in 2007, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) will...

• Time is ticking to get NPI

  There is less than one year left for nursing homes to get their National Provider Identifier (NPI...

Issue 21, May 24, 2006

• Mumps outbreak exceeds 2,500 cases

  At least 11 states are in the midst of a mumps outbreak that should inspire your safety and...

• The JCAHO warns about hand gel fire risks

  The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has alerted facilities...

Issue 20, May 17, 2006

• Nursing home residents flee floodwaters

  The record flooding in New England this week led to at least one evacuation of a healthcare...

• JCAHO reps offer advice on safety concerns

  A surveyor and consultants for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations...

Issue 19, May 10, 2006

• White House unveils pandemic flu plan

  Last week, the White House released its 233-page national response plan for an influenza pandemic.

Issue 18, May 10, 2006

• Patient ignites himself in TX facility

  A patient at South Austin (TX) Hospital died after lighting himself on fire on May 2.

Issue 17, April 26, 2006

• Results of electrical survey, plus a new poll for you

  According to survey results from HCPro's online poll about healthcare electrical safety, 51% of...

• Hospitals cautioned about gasket fire dangers

  Two federal agencies issued a joint warning this week about fire hazards associated with oxygen...

• The JCAHO looks into MRI concerns

  The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is investigating injuries...

• Institute of Medicine advises against reusing N-95 respirators

  During an influenza pandemic, healthcare workers and patients ideally should not reuse disposable...

• Institute of Medicine advises against reusing N-95 respirators

  During an influenza pandemic, healthcare workers and patients ideally should not reuse disposable...

Issue 16, April 18, 2006

• Another JCAHO imposter renews attention on surveyor identities

  An unidentified woman posed as a surveyor from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare...

Issue 15, April 12, 2006

• Please take our electrical survey

  We're looking for your opinions and thoughts about electrical standards in healthcare facilities...

• Six-year damper test proposal is shot down

  Hospitals and nursing homes will need to continue testing their fire and smoke dampers every four...

• The FDA proposes new medical gas precautions

  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a revised regulation that it says will lessen...

Issue 14, April 6, 2006

• One dirty pair of hands might be too much

  Don't take chances with hand hygiene--make sure staff always wash their hands as recommended by the...

• Assisted living fire attracts state attention

  An assisted living facility could be in trouble with the Virginia Department of Social Services...

Issue 13, March 30, 2006

• NYC's hurricane plan is lacking, lawmakers say

  Some New York state lawmakers are underwhelmed by New York City's hurricane evacuation plan.

• Check out the JCAHO's new FAQs about patient safety goals

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

Issue 12, March 22, 2006

• GA purchases hospital disaster response program

  Georgia hospitals are working with their state government to improve disaster planning and response...

• Traces of sterilizing acid lead to evacuations

  Boston Medical Center had a scare Monday night when a maintenance worker taking trash outside to a...

Issue 11, March 15, 2006

• Chertoff emphasizes evacuation responsibilities

  During a speech on March 9, Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff warned hospitals and...

• Photos of pediatric patients allegedly posted online

  If allegations prove to be true, Children's Convalescent Hospital in San Diego is dealing with one...

Issue 10, March 8, 2006

• NYC hospitals gain devices to counter dirty bombs

  New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene awarded a contract to EAI Corporation in...

• March 13 is deadline day for roller latches

  March 13 is a bit of a watershed, because after three years of buildup, healthcare occupancies as...

Issue 9, March 1, 2006

• Follow-up: Patient dies from Legionella

  One patient died after contracting Legionella--and two more were infected with the bacteria--at...

Issue 8, February 23, 2006

• NIOSH wants comments on anesthetics

  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will review and evaluate toxicity...

• Hospital reports Legionella in its water

  Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY, has taken steps to protect patients after routine...

• Dozens of attempted escapes plague state hospital

  There were at least 25 attempted escapes and five successful ones during a three-month period in...

Issue 6, February 8, 2006

• OSHA checks out new TB guidelines

  Officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are reviewing the Centers...

• The FDA shuts down a tissue broker

  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has told a tissue broker to cease its operations over...

Issue 5, February 1, 2006

• Hospital will install ER metal detector

  In the latest example of a longstanding debate, Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, CA, has...

• Boiler eruption clears out a hospital

  For the second time in recent memory, a hospital had to evacuate patients and staff due to a boiler...

• Senate committee raises questions about Part D

  The Senate Finance Committee plans to hold a public hearing in February to air the problems that...

Issue 4, January 25, 2006

• Motown medical centers huddle for the Super Bowl

  Hospitals in Detroit have taken the initiative to get themselves involved with local authorities in...

• New annual generator test proposed

  You have two weeks to comment on a proposed new emergency generator testing requirement from the...

Issue 3, January 18, 2006

• The JCAHO explores mandatory flu shots

  The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is in the midst of a...

• New disaster drill rules are coming

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

Issue 2, January 11, 2006

• Four weeks, four nursing home blazes

  It has been a lousy four weeks for nursing homes when it comes to fires. The following two minor...

• Hospitals warn of suspicious tissue samples

  A New Jersey tissue broker is under an increasingly hot spotlight over whether it sold stolen-and...

Issue 1, January 4, 2006

• The JCAHO convenes surveyors for training

  This week, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is hosting its...

• The CDC updates its tuberculosis guidelines

  Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its long-awaited update to...