Healthcare Risk Management – July 1, 2004
July 1, 2004
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Prevention of falls and fires may make their way to the top of new safety goals
Several perennial worries of risk managers are under consideration by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as new National Patient Safety Goals for 2005, and experts in two of the hottest topics harm from patient falls and the risk of surgical fires say you should assess your efforts in these areas now. -
Looking to avoid trouble? Take a look at these goals
Here are the proposed 2005 National Patient Safety Goals for hospitals. The goals differ somewhat from one health care setting to another. -
Typical surgical fire involves oxidizers, fuel
Consider this true example, taken from the December 2003 issue of ECRIs Health Devices, of how a fire can occur during surgery. -
Living wills called useless; power of attorney is better
Living wills dont work and waste your time when you promote them to patients, according to researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. -
Establish ground rules with your legal counsel
Expectations are key to having a good working relationship with legal counsel, says Pamela L. Popp, MA, JD, FASHRM, CPHRM, vice president for health care practice with McQueary Henry in Dallas, which provides insurance products and risk management services. -
JCAHO updates advice on avoiding wrong-site errors
Continuing the effort to eliminate what it calls an entirely preventable class of error, the Joint Commission has updated its frequently asked questions on how to avoid performing a procedure on the wrong body part, wrong person, or the wrong procedure on the right patient. -
Legal Review & Commentary: When it comes to background checks for employees, follow your own rules
The parents of a newborn baby retained a home health agency to provide in-home child care. The agency failed to follow its screening procedures when selecting the nurses aide and overlooked her history of drug abuse and theft. This case presents a classic illustration of why it is absolutely imperative that an organization follow the rules, especially when it was the organization itself that wrote the rules, states Ellen Barton, JD, CPCU, a risk management consultant in Phoenix, MD. -
Legal Review & Commentary: Neck injury leads to an $18 million verdict in LA
This case highlights a breakdown in procedure in caring for a woman injured in an automobile accident. -
Patient Safety Alert