Review Fire and Evacuation Protocols in Wake of Recent Hospital Fire Near Boston
Review fire and evacuation drills to ensure you can get all patients and visitors out without injury or death, just as a Massachusetts hospital did on February 7, after a transformer caught fire in the basement of a connecting building.
It’s Official: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency to End on May 11
As promised, the White House is giving ample notice—the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) will end on May 11. In a statement January 30, the White House said it would end the PHE, which has allowed hospitals and other providers a number of compliance and other waivers to help ease the burden on healthcare.
OSHA’s Regulatory Plans for 2023
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh recently confirmed that three OSHA healthcare rulemakings are priorities for the Labor Department: a permanent healthcare COVID-19 standard, a proposed infectious disease standard, and a rulemaking to address workplace violence in health care and social services.
Joint Commission Targets Maternal Health Crisis
This week, TJC released a Sentinel Event Alert and Quick Safety advisory on maternal mortality and morbidity. “We must address the maternal health crisis immediately, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated racial disparities in pregnancy-related outcomes,” Ana Pujols McKee, MD, executive vice president, chief medical officer, and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer of TJC, said in a prepared statement.
The Joint Commission Elevates Health Equity to National Patient Safety Goal
The Joint Commission (TJC) —which last year issued new hospital Leadership standards to encourage health equity, effective January 1, 2023—has now elevated health equity to a National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG).
There are no new requirements for NPSG.16.10.01, which echo the Leadership standards except to identify all six elements of performance (EPs) as risk areas.
And Again: PHE Continues After 90-Day Renewal Issued
The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) is now extended. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra issued the renewal on January 11. The typically 90-day extension would then last through April 11, 2023.
OSHA Proceeding With Healthcare Rulemakings
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will proceed with three rulemakings focused on the healthcare industry—standards for COVID-19, infectious diseases, and workplace violence—the Department of Labor (DOL) announced as part of the fall 2022 unified regulatory agenda unveiled January 4.
HHS Again Tackles a Proposed New Rule Against ‘Conscience and Religious Discrimination’
The proposal, which would be entitled “Safeguarding the Rights of Conscience as Protected by Federal Statutes,” is designed to “to restore the longstanding process for the handling of conscience complaints and provide additional safeguards to protect against conscience and religious discrimination,” according to an HHS statement from Secretary Xavier Becerra.
AAAHC Analysis Finds Increased Citations For Infection Prevention, Safety
The report analyzes accredited organization compliance ratings based on onsite surveys conducted from January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. Organizations surveyed include ambulatory surgery centers (ASC), Medicare Deemed Status ASCs, office-based surgery practices, and primary care settings.
CIHQ Earns CMS Approval as an AO For Next 5 Years
As part of the approval process, CIHQ has made several changes and will likely make more as required by CMS. The changes largely involve standards and procedures related to fire safety and facilities management standards and surveys.