The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is threatening to make hospital inspection results by accreditation providers such as The Joint Commission, DNV, CIHQ and Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program public so that patients can see potential violations prior to choosing a hospital. CMS submitted a survey and certification letter, dated April 16, 2017, announcing […]
Health care associated infections (HAIs) are drawing increasing attention from patients, insurers, government and regulatory agencies. Everyone must understand their role in improving outcomes. Education is essential for infection control since most HAIs are considered preventable. You would not get on an airplane knowing the pilot had no training. It’s not just pilots who require […]
Too often we hear about the cost of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) as related to the responsible hospital. Traveling around the country and working closely with health care systems on reducing infections, I have seen internal costs for HAIs ranging from $25,000 to $45,000 per incident. The individual costs of infection are reason enough to place […]
Even though CRISPR sounds like something as simple as a cereal or a toaster treat, it is actually a scientific development that is making research faster and cheaper with more accurate results. CRISPR is a powerful gene-editing technology that is already showing promise in curing difficult and deadly diseases. CRISPR is a defense mechanism found […]
Just when you thought things were improving with hospital safety and health care associated infections (HAIs), new research shows health care associated pathogens remain active on all types of surfaces for extended periods of time. CMS submitted a survey and certification letter, dated April 16, 2017, announcing the intention to publish proposed changes that will […]
You may be wondering why this article is specifically focused on health care-associated infections (HAIs) while so many changes are occurring in health care. Unfortunately, there are a few powerful forces that have collided over one specific spot that makes this focus on HAIs significant. With the continued rise in multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs), an […]
Endoscopic procedures involve a flexible or rigid tube with a light and camera attached to it which is inserted into an organ cavity. This invasive imaging technique is sometimes combined with specific surgical procedures. Endoscopes fall into categories based on the area of the body that they investigate. The Food and Drug Administration states that […]
A tipping point is defined as “the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point.” This definition can be applied in health care as it relates to health care-associated infections (HAIs). The apex has been reached and the weight is moving the entire balance of health care to incorporate change quickly. So what tipped the […]