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According to The Joint Commission, retained surgical items resulting in death or permanent loss of function were the most frequently reported sentinel event in 2010 and 2011.
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Cyber attacks. Data thefts. System breaches. They're all on the rise, and healthcare is the no. 1 field at risk, according to a just-released Internet Security Threat Report 2011 Trends from Symantec Corp.1 Consider these recent examples from the outpatient surgery field:
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All manner of electronic devices are common in any healthcare setting, and individuals increasingly are likely to use their own smart phones, tablets, and other personal electronics while at work. The proliferation of electronics is leading some patient safety experts to worry that patient safety might be threatened by "distracted doctoring."
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Previously, some scheduled surgery patients at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, MI, failed to return phone calls because they had just spoken to someone.
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[Editor's note: This is the first part of a two-part series on issues surrounding social media and ambulatory surgery. In this issue, we give you some horror stories and tell you how to avoid them. We tell you how to be proactive about your online presence, as well as how to develop a social media policy. Next month, we discuss legal issues and employee training.]
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While it is difficult to surprise me anymore, I discovered that in 2011 we opened more not-for-profit, freestanding, off-site hospital surgery centers then we did actual for-profit surgery centers. In looking at our current workload and "pipeline" projects, it looks like the trend is going to extend into 2012.
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Finding a new way to educate employees about fall prevention is a big challenge because, though the topic is important, it can be hard to keep people's attention.
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Two recent awards obtained by Siouxland Surgery Center in Dakota Dunes, SD, show this specialty hospital is on the right track with patient satisfaction.
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A study conducted at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton, OH, has determined that denial rates are lower when case managers collaborate with physicians to determine patients' admission status.
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With increasing scrutiny on medical necessity and cuts in reimbursement, along with a growing emphasis on care coordination and transitions in care, case management's position as a major player in the hospital should be assured. But that's not always the case.
