Same-Day Surgery – July 1, 2016
July 1, 2016
View Issues
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College of Surgeons Addresses Aging with Controversial Statement
The first sign of trouble happened when the surgeon was 78. He performed surgery on a woman who subsequently developed a pulmonary embolism. The nurses made urgent calls, but he didn’t respond. The woman died.
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Surgeons Referred for Comprehensive Program That Tests Their Cognitive and Physical Skills
In addition to a requirement for in-house practitioners to undergo testing at age 75 and older to be credentialed or re-credentialed, Sinai Hospital in Baltimore also has developed a comprehensive two-day program for surgeons who are referred to them by any facility for more extensive testing of cognitive and physical skills or capabilities.
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Hospital Manager Dismisses Patient’s Complaint After She Secretly Records Comments in the OR
A patient’s secret recording of her surgery revealed what one risk manager calls “inexcusable and reprehensible” behavior, including disparaging remarks about her body, comments that could be considered racially offensive, and suggestions that the woman be touched inappropriately by members of the OR team. The recording also documents what could be malpractice: a surgeon administering penicillin after he verbally acknowledged her allergy.
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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Sues Hospital For Suspension Related to Suicidal Comments
When do an employee’s personal troubles threaten patient safety and justify limiting work duties? A certified registered nurse anesthetist recently sued a hospital after it put her on sick leave and demanded a psychiatrist approve her return to work, which was prompted by her statements suggesting suicidal thoughts and the concerns voiced by her coworkers.
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$750,000 Settlement Highlights Need for HIPAA Business Associate Agreements
Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic of North Carolina has agreed to pay $750,000 to settle charges that it potentially violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy and Security Rules by failing to execute a business associate agreement prior to turning over protected health information of 17,300 patients to a potential business partner. The settlement includes a robust corrective action plan.
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False Information from Your Patients with Dementia Threatens Their Safety
Growing concern about the patient safety risks posed by dementia is prompting some healthcare facilities to address the issue with policies and procedures designed to avoid misinformation and other threats.
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How to Improve Safety and Reduce Liability
Patient errors in our industry are a major cause of U.S. deaths. More than 251,000 people each year come into healthcare for help, advice, and loving care, and we kill them! It is a significant challenge for staff and a facility to recover from a patient death caused by human error.
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CMS Releases ASC Quality Data
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released comprehensive ASC quality data reports from its Ambulatory Surgery Center Quality Reporting Program, according to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association.
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The Joint Commission Defends Standards Under Fire as Opioid Abuse Grows
TJC has clarified its position on pain management, and it is underscoring its belief that drugs are not always required to manage pain. The statement followed a letter sent by more than 60 non-profit groups and medical experts to TJC that asked it to revisit its pain management standards.
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Final Rule Published on Fire Safety Requirements
CMS has announced a final rule to update ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities’ fire protection guidelines to improve protections from fire for all Medicare beneficiaries in facilities.
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The Joint Commission Reverses Position, Ends Ban on Texting Orders, With Caveats
TJC has reversed its position and says that effective immediately, “licensed independent practitioners or other practitioners in accordance with professional standards of practice, law and regulation and policies and procedures may text orders as long as a secure text messaging platform is used and the required components of an order are included,” according to an article in the May 2016 Perspectives.
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Institute for Medical Quality Granted Medicare Deemed Status
The Institute for Medical Quality in San Francisco has been approved as a national accrediting organization for ambulatory surgery centers that participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs.
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New Scoring Methodology Helps Facilities Prioritize Corrective Actions
Project REFRESH, TJC's multiphase process improvement project, includes an approach for identifying and communicating risk levels tied to deficiencies cited during surveys.
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The Joint Commission Unveils New Design for Standards Frequently Asked Questions
TJC's frequently asked questions about standards have a new format to make it easier to find information about patient safety and healthcare quality.
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