VA Health System Leaders Recognized by the Partnership for Clear Health Communication at the National Patient Safety Foundation

The Partnership for Clear Health Communication at the National Patient
Safety Foundation announced recipients of the prestigious Pfizer Health
Literacy in Advancing Patient Safety Award. Honored for their work in
developing and implementing a health literacy tool targeted to the
needs of the veteran patient population were Dr. Jolie Haun, from VA
Health Services and the Research Center of Excellence, and Patricia
Donaldson, RN, from Veteran’s Health System, Malcolm Randall VAMC.

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Baxter to Recall COLLEAGUE Infusion Pumps in U.S.

Baxter Healthcare Corporation announced that it will recall COLLEAGUE
infusion pumps from the U.S. market pursuant to an order under its
existing June 2006 consent decree with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).  Baxter will work with the FDA to ensure that the
recall process provides customers appropriate alternatives for
supporting patients’ needs.

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Karen M. Bell, M.D., is New Chair of CCHIT

The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®)
announced the appointment of Karen M. Bell, M.D., as chair of CCHIT,
effective April 26. Bell, most recently senior vice president, Health
Information Technology Services, Masspro, replaces retiring chair Mark
Leavitt, M.D., Ph.D., who led the Commission since its inception in
2004.

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Disclosure and Apology: What’s Missing?

Disclosure and Apology: What’s Missing?

 

Ten years following Linda Kenney’s medically induced trauma, the organization she founded to “support healing and restore hope” for patients, families, and clinicians following adverse events co-sponsored an invitational forum about ways to offer emotional support to clinicians. Collaborating with the Massachusetts Medical Society, CRICO/RMF, and ProMutual Group, Kenney’s organization, Medically Induced Trauma Support Services, hosted the event at the MMS offices in Waltham, Mass., on March 13, 2009, during Patient Safety Awareness Week.

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Human Factors 101: Improve Reliability in Healthcare with Human Factors Engineering

Human Factors 101

Improve Reliability in Healthcare with Human Factors Engineering

Healthcare technology and training have advanced remarkably in the past 100 years, from the discovery of penicillin to the first heart transplant, but there is a downside to this progress. To quote Sir Cyril Chantler, former Dean of the Guy’s, King’s and St. Thomas’ Medical and Dental Schools in London, “Medicine used to be simple, ineffective, and relatively safe. Now it is complex, effective and potentially dangerous.”

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Pulse: Diverse Opinion Leaders Say Nurses Should Have More Influence on Health Systems

Pulse

Diverse Opinion Leaders Say Nurses Should Have More Influence on Health Systems and Services
Opinion leaders trust nurses, but cite barriers to nursing leadership.

From reducing medical errors, to increasing the quality of care, to promoting wellness, to improving efficiency and reducing costs, a new survey finds that an overwhelming majority of opinion leaders say nurses should have more influence. But these opinion leaders—including insurance, corporate, health services, government and industry thought leaders as well as university faculty—see significant barriers that prevent nurses from fully participating as leaders in health and healthcare.

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