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OSHA: Patient handling injuries, other top worker hazards targeted
All inspections of hospitals and nursing homes will include a focus on musculoskeletal disorders and injuries related to safe patient handling and four other top hazards in healthcare: workplace violence, bloodborne pathogens, tuberculosis, and slips, trips and falls, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently announced.
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California staffing law reduces occ injuries; nurses in other states fighting for similar laws
A 2004 California law mandating specific nurse-to-patient staffing standards in acute care hospitals has significantly lowered job-related injuries and illnesses for both registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, researchers report.
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Letter explains observation services, financial obligations
Several years ago, faced with increased complaints about out-of-pocket expenses from patients who received observation services rather than being admitted, the case management department at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital began giving patients in observation a letter explaining the difference in inpatient and observation status.
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Hospital revamped admission process to comply with two-midnight rule
When CMS issued the two-midnight rule in 2013, the case management department at Northwestern Lake Forest (IL) Hospital began an initiative to change the admission process to comply with the new regulations.
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Educate observation patients on what 'observation' means to them
Many patients receiving observation services believe they have been admitted to the hospital until weeks after discharge when they get a substantial bill for their share of services.
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Beef up your documentation reviews to ensure reimbursement is appropriate
Many of the problems the Medicare Administrative Contractors have cited during their Probe and Educate audits revolve around documentation, says Bridget Gulotta, RN, senior consultant for The Camden Group, a national healthcare consulting firm.
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Inpatient vs. Observation: Will it Ever be Clear?
CMS issued the two-midnight rule in 2013 but even after three rounds audits by the Medicare Administrative Contractors, hospitals still struggle to get it right.
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APIC 2015: Daily bathing of pediatric patients with antiseptic reduces BSIs
Daily bathing of pediatric patients with disposable cloths containing 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) reduced central line-associated bloodstream infections by 59% and saved approximately $300,000 in one hospital over a six-month period, according to a study presented recently in Nashville at the annual APIC conference. -
APIC 2015: Pilot program in pediatric long-term care cuts topical antibiotic use, decreases orders
A pilot antibiotic stewardship program at a pediatric long-term care facility led to a 59% decrease in use of a topical antibiotic and an 83% decrease in orders for antibiotics without proper documentation during a six-month period, according to a study presented recently in Nashville at the annual APIC conference.
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APIC 2015: Data collection overkill forcing IPs back into silos, undermining patient safety
Collecting and reporting hospital infection data to federal health agencies takes more than five hours each day.