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The newest requirement for compliance with Goal 7 of the 2009 National Patient Safety Goals from The Joint Commission is "implement best practices or evidence-based guidelines to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections." The requirement applies to short- and long-term central venous catheters and peripherally inserted central catheter lines.
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The importance of reducing deadly drug- resistant, health care-acquired infections is the basis for the requirement in The Joint Commission's (TJC's) 2009 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) to reduce the risk of infection associated with central lines.
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The idea of an agency-leased fleet of cars for use by employees might seem overwhelming to some home care managers, but careful planning, thorough evaluation, and choosing the right vendor are essential for a successful program, says Denise McNitt, RN, MS, division executive for Alegent Health at Home in Omaha, NE.
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Hospices serving Medicare beneficiaries will see a 2.5% increase in their payments for 2009, according to a final regulation published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The increase in the hospice wage index is the net result of a 3.6% increase in the "market basket" indicator of cost, offset by a 1.1% decrease in payments to hospices as CMS phases out a transitional payment to these providers.
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A creative approach to getting travel costs under control will mean an annual savings of least $50,000 for Alegent Health at Home in Omaha, NE. Moving to a fleet of agency-owned hybrid vehicles, the hospice and home health agency expects to save money previously reimbursed for employees' business travel costs.
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According to the recently released report on the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) three-year demonstration program, RACs recouped $992.7 million in overpayments to providers, while $37.8 million in underpayments were repaid to providers.
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In this study, 750 severely ill patients requiring initial hemodialysis were randomized to receive either jugular or femoral vein catheterization. Jugular catheterization significantly increased the incidence of catheter colonization in patients with body mass index (BMI) < 24.2, whereas jugular catheterization decreased the incidence in patients with BMI > 28.4. Across all BMI strata, there was no significant difference in catheter-related blood stream infections in patients who underwent femoral vs jugular catheterization.
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Treatment of severe hypertension in today's busy emergency departments can be confusing and a large source of medical liability.
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Some studies suggest that drug screens rarely influence clinical interventions or disposition, but other authors support the use of routine drug screening in the ED. In addition to this dispute, the test itself is associated with problems that restrict its ability to provide real-time, clinically-relevant information and is often misunderstood by the ordering physician.
