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Quality & Patient Safety
The quality/patient safety department assists hospitals with meeting The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals, addressing CMS patient safety-related regulations, ensuring patient satisfaction, and improving the overall quality of care.
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Top Stories
- CMS publishes infection rate data online
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published central line-associated bloodstream infection rates among patients in intensive care units on its Hospital Compare website. Beginning next year CMS will publish the rates of infections acquired during or after surgery and catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
- Minorities receive less pain treatment, University of Pennsylvania study finds
A study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing revealed that minority and low-income patients are less likely to receive guideline-recommended pain treatment in healthcare settings.
- HHS health IT challenge aims for better transitions
The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) launched a Discharge Follow-Up Appointment challenge intended to improve care transitions during hospital discharges. The challenge is part of the Investing in Innovation (i2) Initiative, a program created by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to stimulate innovations in health IT.
- Diagnostic errors survey examines frequency and cause
A survey conducted by QuantiaMD revealed that diagnostic errors occur with relative frequency. Of the 6,400 survey participants, consisting of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, 47% indicated that missed, late, or wrong diagnoses occur at their practices on a monthly basis. A majority of respondents believed that errors were sometimes preventable, while 8% believed such errors were always preventable.
- Half of preventative health services missed at annual check-ups
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University found that 46% of guideline-recommended preventative services were missed during annual physician visits. According to a new study that pulled data from audio recordings of 484 health examinations, physicians were most likely to recommend screenings for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and hypertension; they were least likely to offer advice or recommendations for influenza immunization, aspirin use, or vision screening.
- Latest issue of Patient Safety Monitor Journal now available
The January issue of Patient Safety Monitor Journal (formerly Briefings on Patient Safety) has been posted to the Patient Safety Monitor website. In this month's issue, learn about current efforts to go above and beyond traditional error reporting.
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Spotlight
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The CMS Joint Commission Crosswalk 2010 Edition
In a practical, side-by-side table format, the book walks you through each of the CMS Conditions of Participation (CoP) and relates them to corresponding Joint Commission standards and elements of performance for 2010.