CMS Home-Based Hospital Care Waiver Called ‘Enormous Step Forward’
In November, CMS announced the creation of the Acute Hospital Care At Home program during the coronavirus public health emergency to help health systems and hospital increase care capacity during the pandemic. Six healthcare organizations were designated as the first participants in the Acute Hospital Care At Home program, including Boston-based Brigham Health.
Mindfulness Program Decreases Burnout in Healthcare Workers, Study Finds
Burnout is one of the top challenges facing clinicians and other healthcare workers nationwide. In a report published in September 2020 by The Physicians Foundation, 30% of more than 2,300 physicians surveyed cited feelings of hopelessness or having no purpose due to changes in their practices related to the coronavirus pandemic. Research published in September 2018 indicates that nearly half of physicians across the country were experiencing burnout symptoms.
Children’s Hospitals Are Partly to Blame as Superbugs Increasingly Attack Kids
A study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases in January found that 1 in 4 children given antibiotics in U.S. children’s hospitals are prescribed the drugs inappropriately — the wrong types, or for too long, or when they’re not necessary. Dr. Jason Newland, a pediatrics professor at Washington University in St. Louis who co-authored the study, said that’s likely an underestimate because the research involved 32 children’s hospitals already working together on proper antibiotic use. Newland said the nation’s 250-plus children’s hospitals need to do better.
PSQH: The Podcast Episode 19 – Providing Behavioral Health Services During a Pandemic
On episode 19 of PSQH: The Podcast, Dr. Nishi Rawat, senior vice president, Appriss Health and co-founder of Openbeds, talks about the impact the pandemic has had on behavioral healthcare services.
How to Build a Comprehensive Social Determinants of Health Initiative
SDOH factors such as food security and housing play a pivotal role in the health of individuals and populations. A landmark 2016 study published by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that socioeconomic factors, health behaviors, and the physical environment account for determining more than 80% of health outcomes, with clinical care accounting for only 16% of health outcomes.
CMS Offers Strategies for Mitigating Behavioral Health Challenges During a Pandemic
The Quality, Safety & Oversight Group (QSO) memo QSO-21-07-Psych Hospital, PRTF & ICF/IID, “COVID-19 Infection Control for Psychiatric and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs/IID),” was sent to CMS regional offices and state agencies on December 17, 2020.
3 Strategies for Combating Nurse Burnout During and After the Pandemic
Before the pandemic, departments were already struggling with staff shortages. In fact, according to an article published in 2018 in the American Journal of Medical Quality, the country is forecast to have a shortage of more than half a million registered nurses by 2030. Now, as the pandemic stretches on, a growing number of nurses are being exposed to the virus, requiring time away from work to quarantine.
ASTM Developing Nonregulatory Standard for Face Masks
The ASTM standard, which would create minimum design, performance, and labeling and care requirements for face coverings, is being developed by the subcommittee on respiratory protection at ASTM. ASTM is targeting a February 2021 approval for the standard, Daniel Smith, vice president of technical committee operations said in an e-mail.
POLST Effective in the Nursing Facility Setting, Study Finds
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms are available across the country. Compared to living wills and durable power of attorney documents, POLST forms have been associated with significantly higher decreased odds of resuscitation attempts in the field and increased odds of out-of-hospital death for patients with “comfort measures only” directives.
DNV GL: CMS Allows Some Remote Reaccreditation Surveys
DNV is also required to do another full reaccreditation survey onsite within nine months of the end of the PHE, said the announcement. Expect The Joint Commission and HFAP to follow suit as they work out details with CMS. However, the CEO for the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality said his AO was unlikely to change its current survey process.