Hospital
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Hospital goes high tech, improves hand hygiene
An Alabama hospital greatly improved hand hygiene compliance and significantly reduced health care associated infections (HAIs) after installing an automated hand-hygiene monitoring system.
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CDC, ECRI Institute devise culturing protocols for duodenoscopes to prevent CRE infection
Responding to a series of outbreaks of CRE (carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae) linked to duodenoscopes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed an interim protocol for culturing the devices before use to create a greater of margin of safety for patients.
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Hospitals moving on antibiotic stewardship, but outpatient settings have a more difficult task
The analogy between antibiotic resistance and climate change is an apt one in the sense that both require a local and a global response. Flagrant antibiotic prescribing in outpatient settings, for example can certainly undermine a judicious hospital response in the grand scheme of things. Similarly, what good is it if one country fights to save fading antibiotic efficacy but another nation passes out pills like candy. More on that later, but first the outpatient problem.
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Spore wars: C. difficile takes a staggering toll as top HAI
While CRE and other “superbugs” have been much in the headlines of late, Clostridium difficile has quietly become one of the most deadly pathogens in the country. Some 500,000 people are being infected annually in the U.S., with 29,000 patients dying within 30 days of the initial diagnosis of a C. diff infection (CDI). That is three times the number of people that have died of Ebola since the epic outbreak began in December of 2013.
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Med mal reform not lowering healthcare costs
Two papers co-authored by a University of Illinois expert in the regulation and financing of healthcare conclude that tort reform has had relatively little impact on the U.S. healthcare system.
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Huge increase in hacking of computer systems
Hackers are stealing data from providers at an astounding rate, which reflects the fact that information from healthcare records are worth far more on the black market than credit card numbers.
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$8.5 million verdict is first for concierge medicine
A Palm Beach County, FL, jury recently returned an $8.5 million malpractice verdict against MDVIP, the nation’s largest concierge medicine practice company, which has 784 affiliated physicians in 41 states. The award is the first against MDVIP, and it is believed to be the first malpractice award against any concierge management firm.
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Misplaced NG tubes a major patient safety risk
Misplaced nasogastric and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes pose a serious threat to patient safety and a liability risk for hospitals. New technology might improve the detection of misplaced tubes.
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Hospital reduces falls 75% with bundle of strategies
A hospital is reporting a 75% reduction in falls through the use of a performance improvement team. The team uses a “bundle” of strategies to reduce falls.
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Experts warn: Patient passports need review by risk management department
Patient passports are gaining in popularity, but risk managers should consider legal and documentation issues. The patient passport is a document that covers basic patient data. A key question is whether the passport becomes part of the medical record.