Safety Newsletters

Briefings on Infection Control Healthcare Life Safety Compliance Hospital Safety Center Medical Environment Update OSHA Watch

Your facility's infection control and prevention initiatives are in the spotlight: Scrutiny from The Joint Commission, CDC guidelines, mounting pressure from state government, and heightened public awareness all paly a role. How will you keep up?

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Briefings on Infection Control

Issue 12, December 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• IC audits prove critical to infection rate accuracy

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Explain why audits of infection rates are...

• CLABSI reporting inconsistent among PICUs

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Analyze deficiencies in the current CLABSI...

• New York hospital reaches 1,000 days without CLABSI

  In September, the New York State Department of Health released a report that listed infection...

• White paper calls for elimination of HAIs

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Identify the four pillars of HAI...

Issue 11, November 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Five years of mandatory flu shots

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Describe how Virginia Mason Medical Center...

• IC standards among the top cited in ambulatory care

  After reading this article, you will be able to: List the top-cited standards for ASCs and...

• No new NPSGs doesn’t mean the job is complete

  After reading this article, you will be able to: List the minor changes to the National...

• Observer bias may be affecting your hand hygiene rates

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Describe how unit-based observers may...

Issue 10, October 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• New York hospital’s PICU celebrates one year without central line infections

  On July 7, staff members in the pediatric ICU (PICU) at Steven and Alexandra Cohen...

• Vaccination in the form of a patch

  Imagine if you only had to walk to your mailbox or your local supermarket in order to be vaccinated...

• Disposing of multidose and single-dose vials

  After reading this article, you will be able to:  Explain why vials containing drugs...

• Dallas hospital stops MDRO outbreak in its tracks

  In February, a study—conducted by Extending the Cure, a research project under Resources for...

Issue 9, September 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Risk assessments: The catch-all for hazard analysis

  “Do a risk assessment.” That’s the answer most frequently heard in response to...

• Multidose vials: Follow the 28-day rule

  Multidose vials run the risk for infections and citations if they aren?t used appropriately In one...

• Changing the way we interpret SCIP measures

  A new study published in the July 23 Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that...

• New campaign focuses on UTI reduction

  Maybe they aren’t among the most dangerous HAIs, but catheter-associated urinary tract...

Issue 8, August 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Evaluating the possibility  of an OSHA infectious disease standard

  On May 6, OSHA officially released a request for information (RFI) for public comment on...

• Study confirms C. diff can travel through the air

  As Clostridium difficile (C. diff) began appearing in many hospitals across the country—and...

• Waterborne illnesses can fly under the radar

  Waterborne pathogens may not be first on your list of IC priorities—perhaps because you...

• Gaps still exist with simple influenza prevention measures

  Everyone has heard the messages from the CDC or seen the signs in their hospital urging employees...

Issue 7, July 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• California hospital hit with major fine for ATD violation

  The Department of Industrial Relations? (DIR) Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better...

• CDC and Premier partner to develop CLABSI surveillance

  In May the CDC announced its partnership with the Premier healthcare alliance for a joint research...

• Study: Universal gloving could be viable alternative for contact precautions

  A study published in the May Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology found that a universal...

• iPhone app attempts to streamline hand hygiene tracking

  The appropriately named ?iScrub? app, developed at the University of Iowa (UI), aims to replace the...

• Identifying IC risks within Environment of Care standards

  After reading this article, you will be able to:  Explain how Environment of Care...

Issue 6, June 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Implementing mandatory flu shots: Two systems share their stories

  After reading this article, you will be able to:  Justify implementing a mandatory flu...

• SUD reprocessing: Balancing cost savings, patient safety

  After reading this article, you will be able to:  Explain how reprocessing single-use...

• Updated C. diff guidelines focus on tracking infections, diagnosis, treatment, and cleaning

  After reading this article, you will be able to:  Explain why C. diff infections are...

• When to require staff to wear isolation gowns

  After reading this article, you will be able to:  Identify the requirements of Joint...

Issue 5, May 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Choosing safety despite your manufacturers’ options

  Sharps safety devices are only one consideration for employers. When it comes to employee safety...

• Improving hand hygiene compliance rates with marketing, accountability, and incentives

  Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston and Abington (PA) Memorial Hospital have both improved...

• OSHA cracks down on H1N1 respiratory protection

  On January 29, Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, WA, received a citation and an $8,000 fine...

• Ensuring appropriate resources in your facility

  Essentially, a Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO)surveyor will look at the overall health of your IC...

Issue 4, April 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Evaluating decontamination procedures prior to sterilization

  A major part of that process is decontaminating and properly cleaning equipment before actual...

• New preoperative skin preparations reduce SSIs

  Authors of a new study, published in the January 7 New England Journal of Medicine, wanted to find...

• Oncology clinic prevents H1N1 with aggressive policies

  Cancer patients are widely regarded as the patient population most susceptible to infections, so...

• Virginia hospital celebrates five years with no VAP events

  Sentara Williamsburg (VA) Regional Medical Center (SWRMC) marked five years without a case of...

Issue 3, March 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• New concerns arise with antibiotic-resistant organisms

  Over the past several years, MDROs have become a leading concern for IPs attempting to reduce their...

• Hand hygiene rates improved through variety of reinforcement styles

  Editor's note: This article was originally published in the December 2009 Briefings on The Joint...

• CDC updates guidelines on CAUTI prevention

  Although it's not one of the most dangerous healthcare-associated infections (HAI...

Issue 2, February 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• FDA warning forces alternative sterilization methods

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Recall the FDA’s warning on STERIS...

• More money devoted to IC surveys for ASCs

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Recognize increased oversight and money for...

• Breaking down the OSHA directive on N95s

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Define OSHA regulations on respiratory...

• APIC conference offers regulatory guidance for IPs

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Discuss topics presented at the 2009 APIC...

Issue 1, January 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• IC discipline: Successfully approaching violators

  Unless they work in a medical facility with perfectly compliant employees, IPs are usually forced...

• Study looks at parenteral nutrition and its effect on bloodstream infections

  Typically when IPs evaluate bloodstream infection rates, their initial thoughts turn to central...

• Multiple interventions reduce VAP rates

  Although The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals force IPs to focus primarily on...

• The roles and responsibilities of a new IP

  Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from the Infection Prevention Handbook, written by...