Quality & Patient Safety Newsletters

Briefings on Accreditation and Quality Patient Safety Monitor

Patient Safety Monitor is a searchable, web-based crosswalk that organizes state, CMS, and Joint Commission requirements by topic. It also provides access to news and analysis on dozens of the most challenging patient safety issues via the monthly journal, the tools and templates library, and the weekly e-newsletter.

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Issue 6, May 8, 2019

• Opioids: CDC clarifies prescribing guidelines

  In a letter released April 10, the CDC clarified its Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic...

• PSMJ has moved to Accreditation & Quality Compliance Center website

  Patient Safety Monitor Journal (PSMJ) has relocated to www.accreditationqualitycenter.com. PSMJ...

Issue 5, April 10, 2019

• Q&A: Legal marijuana use in hospitals

  While still illegal federally, there are currently 33 states that have legalized marijuana for...

• High hospital C-section rates will be published online in 2020

  Next year, patients and potential parents will have one more metric by which to judge your...

• Many patients using anticoagulants are taking aspirin the same day

  Physicians who’ve prescribed anticoagulants to their patients should double-check to make...

• Ebola, Zika, and the flu: CMS and CDC want action on emerging infections

  Between antibiotics losing their effectiveness, people refusing to vaccinate, and constant lapses...

Issue 4, April 1, 2019 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Depression screening and treatment

  Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and 16.2 million Americans experienced a...

• ER doctor: Protect your staff from workplace violence

  Amy Costigan, MD, wants to be able to practice emergency medicine without being punched in the face.

• PSMF takes aim at postoperative delirium in elders

  The PSMF has named postoperative delirium as its 18th patient safety challenge, collecting...

• Talk down: Joint Commission on de-escalation

  At 10 p.m. on May 20, 2018, a patient was transported by the fire department to Loretto Hospital in...

• Spring safety: Tuning up your clinic security as it heats up

  Unless you take a good inventory of the safety issues around your facility, the medical clinic or...

Issue 3, March 1, 2019 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Sharp HealthCare: Before the plane crash

  In January 2009, all eyes were on the Hudson River when a plane flying out of New York’s...

• Suicide Prevention National Patient Safety Goal updated

  The Joint Commission (TJC) announced revisions to its suicide prevention National Patient Safety...

• Examine your dialysis space to ensure room to separate infectious patients

  Hemodialysis is one of four areas The Joint Commission (TJC) says it’s increasing focus on...

• Dialysis tips

  Expect more focus on hemodialysis this year. The Joint Commission  (TJC) and CMS have...

• Four steps to improve your hospital quality and safety rankings

  For one hospital in particular, a poor Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade rating in 2014 became a...

• Look to "Blueprint" to understand new EPA requirements on hazardous drug waste

  Consider managing all your pharmaceuticals as hazardous waste, especially if you are a smaller...

• Anticoagulant National Patient Safety Goal updated

  The Joint Commission (TJC) announced revisions to its anticoagulant therapy National Patient Safety...

Issue 2, February 1, 2019 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Wildfire and smoke: Sharp HealthCare's fire plans

  Last November, the innocently named Camp Fire killed over 80 people in California, making it the...

• Suicides and drugs cut U.S. life expectancy

  It’s not news to most providers that suicide and drug abuse are on the rise. However, a trio...

• Incoming EPA rule will change the game on hazardous waste pharmaceuticals

  Tell your nurses that soon that packaging for a patient’s nicotine patch, gum, or lozenge...

• SHEA issues infection control guidance for anesthesiology

  In December, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) issued new guidance for...

• Remembering Winter Storm Jonas

  Consult your emergency management plan when facing an impending storm, and update this plan with...

• Mass evacuations: Using TRAIN matrix to triage patients

  You can modify the Triage by Resource Allocation for IN-patient (TRAIN) matrix to suit your...

Issue 1, January 1, 2019 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Brace yourself, winter is coming

  What do you see outside your window? If you’re in many parts of the U.S., you might see a...

• Joint Commission's new emergency management checklist

  On October 10, Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida, forcing at least two hospitals to...

• Using patient engagement to reduce diagnostic errors

  Drawing information from patients can help boost understanding of why diagnostic errors happen and...

• Part one: ECRI tech hazards 2019

  The ECRI Institute published its annual list of the top 10 health technology hazards facing...

• PSMJ 2018 Index

  It is an understatement to say 2018 was an eventful year. If you need to review anything, we?ve...