Assess Your EVS Program for Infection Control Problems Before Surveyors Show Up
Earlier this year CMS cited hospitals for not following their own policies and failing to ensure environmental services personnel followed standard procedures for infection control during cleaning, including instances of cross-contamination of surfaces.
Healthcare Worker Well-Being and Resilience Summit: Three Big Ideas
Victor Dzau, MD, president of the National Academy of Medicine provided an update on the organization’s Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience. Formed in 2017, the collaborative has launched several initiatives and resources, including resources to support clinician health and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, a clinician well-being knowledge hub, publications, and events and webinars.
Wrapping Up International Infection Prevention Week
As International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) winds down, we at PSQH just want to thank infection preventionists for all the hard work they do every day. In these COVID days, their job is more important than ever. Thanks to our sponsors this week, Angelini Pharma and GOJO, the inventors of Purell.
Post-Pandemic: Be Prepared to Explain How You’re Going to Catch Up
All accreditation organizations as well as CMS are working on backlogs of surveys delayed by the public health emergency (PHE) declared in March. Waivers will no longer be allowed once that PHE is lifted. As many facilities have had their hands full with patient surges from COVID-19, the illness caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus, they’ll have work to do to ensure their environment of care is brought up to speed.
CMS Approves Merger of HFAP with Accreditation Commission for Health Care
HFAP standards and certification requirements will stay the same and it will continue to operate under the HFAP name as a brand within ACHC, according to information released by both organizations October 20.
PSQH: The Podcast Episode 14 – Infection Prevention During a Pandemic
On episode 14 of PSQH: The Podcast, host Jay Kumar talks to LRC Systems founder and CEO Dr. Shailesh Date about how U.S. hospitals have responded to COVID-19, what to expect as we enter flu season, thoughts about a potential vaccine, and the threat of co-infections. This episode is part of PSQH’s celebration of International Infection Prevention Week and is brought to you by Angelini Pharma and GOJO, the inventors of Purell.
Improving Hand Hygiene Requires a Multi-Modal Approach
The key to implementing a winning hand hygiene strategy is to take a multimodal approach. Combining direct observation, just-in-time coaching and an electronic compliance monitoring system are effective solutions.
Hospital Admissions Bounce Back, But Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels
Using electronic medical record data gleaned from Epic Health Research Network, the KFF researchers looked at total hospital admissions and non-COVID-19 admissions by patient sex, age, and region to calculate the actual admissions as a share of total predicted admissions for 2020 based on past trends.
How to Understand and Utilize the EPA’s “N” List
The EPA’s “N” List can be your adversary or your ally. Learn how it is compiled, how best to search it, and where EPA lists can help you most.
United States Faring Poorly in Coronavirus Deaths
The United States has led the world in reported coronavirus deaths. As of Oct. 15, more than 221,000 Americans had died of COVID-19, according to worldometer. The country with the next highest death count was Brazil at more than 150,000.