By: Hagan Kappler Modern healthcare is based on two important principles originally ascribed to Hippocrates: help the sick and abstain from doing harm. Physicians are sworn to these ideals.  Nurses and others in healthcare promise the same. These goals are certainly true for Environmental Services directors and staff.  They serve on the frontline of infection … Continued

Mate, who was named the organization’s CEO in June, said the search for ways to build a better healthcare system should embrace the concept of targeted universalism, which is an inclusive way to implement interventions. A prime example of targeted universalism is the curb cut, which was initially created to provide public streets accessible to wheelchair users, but now benefits a wide variety of people for various reasons.

Initiatives outlined in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections set the goal of a 90% vaccination rate among healthcare personnel. But in the August publication of the HHS “Healthy People 2030” goals, that 90% rate was removed, according to TJC’s announcement.

By: Susannah Noel Protecting patients from blood clots With the global coronavirus pandemic causing heightened focus on patient care, we’re highlighting patient safety in hospitals. A top way to avoid unnecessary complications and deaths is to work on preventing blood clots — or venous thromboembolisms (VTE). Every year, 350,000 to 600,000 people are affected by VTE, which … Continued

The plan is designed to provide health systems with advice and directions based on evidence-based practices, case studies, interventions, and new innovations. The report, Safer Together: A National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety, was put together with the input of 27 federal agencies, safety organizations and experts, and patient and family advocates.

The co-authors of the recent research article, which was published in Annals of Emergency Medicine, conclude that safety event reporting regimes that focus on punishing individuals are self-defeating.

Patient safety has been a pressing issue in healthcare since 1999, with the publication of the landmark report To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System. Despite two decades of attention, estimates of annual patient deaths due to medical errors have risen steadily to as many as 440,000 lives, a figure that was reported in the Journal of Patient Safety in 2013.