Exploring the Intersection of Concurrent Surgeries and False Claims Enforcement
Renewed focus on concurrent surgeries underscores patient safety concerns. Newspaper investigation has thrust issue into national spotlight, prompting American College of Surgeon Updates
The practice of concurrent surgeries has become a top concern for hospitals across the country following a Boston Globe investigation into the practices of a reputable Massachusetts hospital.
In October, the Globe published a lengthy exposé into the practice of “concurrent” or “double-booking” surgeries at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), ranked as the top hospital in the nation by U.S. News and World Report in 2015-2016. The Globe’s investigation revealed an ongoing battle within the health system that pitted one long-time surgeon against the hospital’s top brass in his quest to eliminate concurrent surgeries. The investigation also described specific incidents in which patients were harmed or even paralyzed during double-booked procedures.
The Globe investigation has pushed the issues of concurrent surgeries – a common practice among many academic medical systems across the country – to the surface, drawing criticisms from patient safety advocates and prompting organizations like the American College of Surgeons (ACS) to review current policies on concurrent or overlapping surgeries.
EHR Copy and Paste Best Practices Toolkit Released
Copying and pasting information in EHRs is a common practice that can save busy physicians and other staff valuable time, but it can also introduce significant errors into the record. In an effort to help physicians make the most of the copy and paste function while protecting the integrity of the record, the Partnership for … Continued
The Safety Culture Issue
The following is a guest article by Dan Scungio, MT (ASCP), SLS, a Laboratory Safety Officer for Sentara Healthcare, a multi-hospital system in the Tidewater region of Virginia. Editor’s Note: This piece originally appeared on HCPro’s OSHA Healthcare Advisor. On which side of the aisle do you stand on the subject of change? Things change … Continued
New 2017 National Patient Safety Goal Focuses on CAUTI Prevention
The Joint Commission today announced plans for a new National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) aimed at reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). The prepublication standards for the NPSG are online and cover standards for accredited hospitals, critical access hospitals, and nursing care centers. The NPSG is intended to align CAUTI treatment and prevention with the … Continued
Hopkins: ‘Cascading Accountability’ Boosts Ambulatory Quality, Safety
By Alexandra Wilson Pecci, HealthLeaders Media Johns Hopkins Medicine coordinates high-quality care across ambulatory care centers, using a model it says has resulted in improved metrics associated with breast cancer screenings, immunizations, and diabetes management. Johns Hopkins Medicine’s commitment to quality care is evidenced by a governance, oversight, and accountability model that is cascading throughout … Continued
Failure Recovery Tool Offers Guidance Amid the ‘Chaos and Shock’ of Medical Errors
This article appears in the March issue of Patient Safety Monitor. Hospitals need to have a structure in place to respond to patient safety failures Healthcare can be a stressful industry to work in, particularly when something goes wrong. Instead of relying on humans to react under pressure, one organization is offering a structured … Continued
Letter to the Editor: Did the FDA Say Duodenoscopes Were Safe? Part 2
A post on February 24, 2016 by PSQH was headlined “FDA: Duodenoscopes from three major companies now safe to use with updated instructions.” The article went on to say that “The announcement means that scopes from the three major manufactures…are now safe to use with their updated instructions.” However a proper reading of the FDA … Continued
Patient Safety Awareness Week is Underway
Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 13-19) presented by the National Patient Safety Foundation’s (NPSF) United for Patient Safety Campaign is underway. Healthcare facilities and leading patient safety organizations across the country are expected to participate in patient safety week. The United for Patient Safety Campaign, announced by the NPSF last month, encourages dialogue … Continued
Patient Testimonials Lead to HIPAA Breach
Complete P.T., Pool & Land Physical Therapy, Inc. (CPT), a California-based physical therapy practice, agreed to a corrective action plan and a $25,000 resolution amount to settle allegations that it disclosed protected health information (PHI) as part of a video testimonial campaign, HHS says. The settlement is the result of a complaint lodged with Office … Continued
Medical Device Vulnerabilities High on CIO’s List of Worries
By Scott Mace, HealthLeaders Media This article originally appeared in HealthLeaders Media. As HIMSS gets underway, the healthcare IT world is still shaking from last month’s audacious privacy breach at a California hospital. Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital paid a $17,000 ransom to a criminal enterprise that broke into the hospital’s system, encrypted data, and demanded an … Continued