Study: More Than Half of Hospital Infections Could Be Prevented With Proper Protocols
The release of the study was timed to coincide with Outbreak Prevention and Response Week, hosted by SHEA and key partners to raise awareness and provide resources to healthcare professionals, the infection prevention community, patients, and families on ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
PSQH Innovation Awards Winner: Thibodaux Regional Medical Center Transforms Orthopedic Care Processes
In this article, we highlight the submissions selected as the winners of the PSQH Innovation Awards, including the top innovator, Thibodaux (Louisiana) Regional Medical Center.
Hospital-Owned Drug Company Aims for Transparent, Flat Pricing for Critical Generic Drugs
As healthcare organizations struggle to reduce costs and increasingly seek to include price considerations among the value they provide to patients, seven healthcare organizations representing more than 500 U.S. hospitals, together with three major philanthropies that have each committed $10 million to the organization, have developed what they see as a solution to the instability and unpredictability of costs for lifesaving medications.
Mix-Ups Between Epidural Analgesia and IV Antibiotics in L&D Units Continue to Cause Harm
These mix-ups mimic previously published events and have similar contributing factors, including look-alike infusion bags, overlooked warning labels, and a point-of-care barcode medication administration system that was not fully engaged. However, unlike the prior events, drug shortages also played a role in the most recent errors.
Fluoroscopy-Associated Skin Reactions: Lessons From the VHA Root Cause Analysis Database
These complex procedures, while beneficial to the patient, are often lengthy and can lead to prolonged fluoroscopic cumulative exposures even when efforts are made to protect the patient from radiation. Affected patients can develop skin reactions ranging from mild erythema to extensive soft tissue injury necessitating major plastic surgery.
Believing Is Seeing
Business-to-consumer industries know how to collect data and turn it into information that prompts us to do things, including buying products and securing services. In some cases, these prompts are helpful (e.g., using Waze to display the best driving route and point out the nearest Dunkin’ Donuts).
Returning the Primary Care Physician to the Heart of Patient Care
With the renewed focus on supporting primary care, it’s possible that the concept of the patient-centered medical home model—which is defined by placing primary care near the center of a collaborative healthcare team focused on the patient’s complete wellness—may finally be seeing its time.