ED Management – August 1, 2006
August 1, 2006
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Organizations join forces against Joint Commission medication rules
On May 30, 2006, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM), and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) did something they had never done before: They wrote a letter in concert to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) expressing their concerns about an issue affecting emergency medicine practitioners. -
ACEP, AAEM, ENA outline their objections
In a May 30, 2006, letter under the letterheads of all three organizations, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM), and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) voiced their objections to National Patient Safety Goal No. 8 from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. -
Here's how JCAHO defines compliance
Since there are no guarantees as to when or if the objections of emergency medicine groups to standard MM 4.10 from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations will result in any modifications, it's critical for ED managers to know exactly what the Joint Commission is looking for when it comes to compliance with the standard. -
JCAHO establishes new infection control standard
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has approved an infection control standard that requires accredited organizations to offer influenza vaccinations to staff, which includes volunteers, and licensed independent practitioners with close patient contact. -
Computers aid EDs in violence screening
Computer screening may increase the odds that a woman at risk for domestic violence will talk to a health care professional in the ED, according to a recent article in the Archives of Internal Medicine. -
Shortage of specialists worsens, ACEP says
Almost three-quarters of ED medical directors responding to a survey reported inadequate on-call specialist coverage, compared with two-thirds in 2004, according to a new report released by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). -
Field hospital model aids New Orleans ED
You might think that with the population of New Orleans greatly reduced following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the city's EDs would find the going a bit easier. -
EMTALA Q & A: Privilege resignations: ED manager's dilemma
Question: How should ED managers respond to requests from physicians to resign limited clinical privileges? -
ED Accreditation Update: Is your department prepared to make changes to your emergency management exercises?
As of July 1, 2006, hospitals are required to improve the planning and evaluation of emergency management exercises under revised standard EC 4.20. This change is being made to help ensure that providers are conducting emergency management exercises, formerly called drills, rigorously and thoroughly, according to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). -
ED Accreditation Update: New focuses: Resources and patient management
To meet the revised standard for emergency management exercises from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, hospitals must determine how they are going to allocate resources that may be in short supply in an emergency situation. -
ED Accreditation Update: JCAHO changes standards for credentials in a disaster
Standards have been added and revised in the accreditation manuals for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations to address the verification of credentials and assignment of responsibilities for volunteers who are not licensed independent practitioners during disasters, as well as licensed independent practitioners. -
ED Accreditation Update: Joint Commission offers free audioconferences
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is conducting free monthly one-hour audio conferences with Joint Commission president Dennis S. O'Leary, MD. The dates and topics for upcoming audioconferences are: -
ED Accreditation Update: IOM report recommends Joint Commission action
The Institute of Medicine's (IOM's) three-year "Future of Emergency Care" project, recently completed, includes recommendations for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. -
ED Accreditation Update: JCAHO revises standard on organ procurement
Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, hospitals will be required to develop a policy regarding organ donation after cardiac death, based on the revised organ procurement and donation standard (LD.3.110).