Hospital Peer Review – April 1, 2019
April 1, 2019
View Issues
-
Accreditation Prep Should Be Constant, but Watch for Current Trends
This period of relative calm gives quality professionals a chance to concentrate on their past accreditation experiences and any shortcomings that might need attention, rather than being distracted with new rules and trying to play catch-up before the surveyors arrive. -
Fire Safety, Utilities Top List of Common Compliance Issues
Here are the top five issues cited by The Joint Commission as “not compliant” during surveys and reviews from Jan. 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018. -
TJC’s NPSG on Anticoagulation Therapy Effective Soon
The Joint Commission is revising its National Patient Safety Goal on anticoagulation therapy, effective July 1, 2019. The change will include performance requirements to reduce the risk of harm to patients using anticoagulants. -
CMS Revises Immediate Jeopardy Protocol to Speed Reaction
Responding to recent incidents in which patients were subjected to harm in ways that necessitated a fast response, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is revising the way surveyors assess and respond to failures that place patients in “immediate jeopardy.”
-
Blockchain Can Be Used to Improve Credentialing Process
A cutting-edge technology could greatly enhance the peer-review process, according to one proponent. The blockchain technology most commonly associated with cryptocurrency like bitcoin could revolutionize how hospitals review and credential physicians, he says. -
Health System Uses Predictive Analytics to Reduce Readmissions
Advocate Aurora Health, a large health system with dual headquarters in Downers Grove, IL, and Milwaukee, is reporting success with a program that uses predictive analytics to identify outpatients with an increased risk of unnecessary hospitalization. Those patients are then provided special intervention to prevent admissions. -
Program Addresses Hazards Faced by Parkinson’s Disease Patients
A hospitalwide initiative to address the hazards faced by Parkinson’s disease patients has led Hackensack University Medical Center, part of Hackensack Meridian Health, to become the first acute care hospital awarded a disease-specific certification designation for Parkinson’s from The Joint Commission. -
Study Says Employing Physicians Does Not Improve Quality
The trend toward vertical integration in the healthcare industry and more employment of physicians by hospitals and health systems does not improve quality on key metrics, according to a recent study. -
CMS Changes Nursing Home Compare, May Drop Star Ratings
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced significant changes to Nursing Home Compare and the Five-Star Quality Rating System. The agency also says that it is considering abandoning the star ratings for hospitals completely.