This State Policy Snapshot summarizes actions states are taking to combat human trafficking through task forces, training programs, and protections for trafficked individuals.
view more »New Recommendations to Advance Health Equity Amid COVID-19
Feb 16, 2021 ||The Joint Commission's latest Quick Safety newsletter offers recommendations to ensure equitable care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
view more »CDC Observes Antibiotics Awareness Week, Releases Action Plan
Nov 20, 2020 ||The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention marks U.S. Antibiotics Awareness Week with a new Antibiotic Use Option Report that synthesizes National Healthcare Safety Network data.
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals and more than 20 other advocates and federal agencies today announced an action plan on patient safety. The plan recognizes that systemic racism and other societal inequities can cause harm to concentrate in certain populations, and it calls for using safety data to identify gaps related to social determinants of health.
view more »The Gage Awards honor creative and successful programs at essential hospitals that enhance patient care and meet community needs.
view more »Federal guidance details how states can request ventilators; states regulate distribution of chloroquine and hydoxychloroquine and take steps to ensure housing stability.
view more »FDA, CDC Respond to Supply Shortages
Mar 31, 2020 ||FDA will not object to the use of improvised face masks; a CDC tool helps health care providers estimate their personal protective equipment supply.
view more »Quality Program Reporting Exemptions, COVID-19 Testing Guidance
Mar 31, 2020 ||CMS releases guidance for hospitals in quality reporting programs; CDC updates guidelines for testing and handling COVID-19 specimens.
view more »States open insurance marketplace special enrollment periods; the Association of State and Territorial Health Organizations issues considerations for mobile testing.
view more »President Trump declared a national emergency as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. nears 3,500. CMS responds to concerns about complying with Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act requirements and CDC released updated infection control guidance for health care providers.
view more »COVID-19 Update: Guidance for Health Care Personnel, Testing
Mar 10, 2020 ||As U.S. cases of the new coronavirus rise to more than 400, the agency updates guidelines for testing patients and for health care workers exposed to COVID-19.
view more »In a memo to state survey agencies and accrediting organizations, CMS announced it will focus survey activities solely on infection control until further notice and provided guidance for patient triage and nursing homes.
view more »Medtronic Recalls MiniMed Insulin Pumps
Feb 18, 2020 ||Affected models have a damaged retainer ring that locks the insulin cartridge into the pump's reservoir compartment, resulting in improper insulin dosing.
view more »On the Hill: MFAR Threatens Medicaid Access, State Finances
Jan 28, 2020 ||America's Essential Hospitals encourages members to share their concerns about the Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation with Congress and CMS. Meanwhile, the House returns to health care business after a one-week recess, and the Senate impeachment trial continues.
view more »Cardinal Health Recalls Surgical Gowns
Jan 27, 2020 ||This recall includes more than 9 million gowns designed for use in procedures such as open heart surgery and knee replacements.
view more »AHRQ Releases Antibiotic Stewardship Toolkit
Nov 18, 2019 ||The toolkit includes a decision-making framework for antibiotic prescribing and strategies for developing an antibiotic stewardship program.
view more »CDC Progress Report Shows HAI Improvement
Nov 4, 2019 ||The report shows a 9 percent decrease in central line–associated bloodstream infections, an 8 percent decrease in catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and a 12 percent decrease in hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infections.
view more »CDC Updates Infection Prevention, Control Guidelines
Oct 28, 2019 ||The update covers a wider variety of health care settings and includes guidance for the use of performance measures in infection control quality initiatives.
view more »APIC Recognizes International Infection Prevention Week
Oct 11, 2019 ||This year's theme, Vaccines are Everybody’s Business, highlights the importance of protecting public health through vaccination.
view more »FDA Recommends Disposability for Duodenoscopes
Sep 4, 2019 ||The agency urges health care providers to use duodenoscopes with disposable endcaps to simplify cleaning and reduce contamination.
view more »AHRQ Offers New Primer on Health Care Provider Burnout
Jul 17, 2019 ||The new web resource includes a rich collection of links to relevant studies and other research, a sidebar of reference materials, and a summary of how various organizations have worked to prevent burnout.
view more »NAM Webinar: Tapering Guidance for Opioids
Jul 8, 2019 ||An expert panel will share the evidence behind current guidance for opioid tapering and how to apply this guidance in practice, as well as case studies and pain management challenges from the field.
view more »FDA Announces Medtronic Insulin Pump Recall
Jul 1, 2019 ||An unauthorized person potentially could wirelessly connect to a nearby MiniMed insulin pump and change the pump settings.
view more »CDC Alert: Expected TB Test Shortage
Jun 10, 2019 ||The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expecting a three- to 10-month nationwide shortage of Aplisol, used in tuberculin skin tests.
view more »DHS Releases Resource on Hospital Active Shooter Incidents
May 21, 2019 ||The guidance lists warning signs for which hospital staff should be aware, recommendations for active shooter responses, and suggested protective measures.
view more »CMS Revises Ligature Risk Guidance
Apr 29, 2019 ||Revised guidance clarifies what constitutes a ligature risk and outlines a ligature risk extension process for deficient hospitals; comments are due June 17.
view more »States Aim to Improve Trauma Protocols for Stroke Patients
Apr 8, 2019 ||Recent laws in Arizona, Colorado, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Virginia require paramedics to transport severe stroke patients directly to a hospital with a comprehensive stroke center licensed to perform thrombectomies.
view more »States Consider Limiting Nurse-to-Patient Ratio Requirements
Mar 19, 2019 ||State legislators in Illinois, Michigan, and New York seek to limit the number of patients that hospital nurses can treat at a time.
view more »CDC Funding Opportunity for Maternal Mortality Prevention
Mar 12, 2019 ||This funding opportunity supports the formation of Maternal Mortality Review Committees, which will work with the agency to collect and analyze maternal death data.
view more »The Joint Commission to Host Annual Physician Leader Forum
Mar 12, 2019 ||This quality improvement and patient safety forum features expert speakers, transformation strategy workshops, and networking opportunities.
view more »CMS Revises Immediate Jeopardy Policies
Mar 11, 2019 ||The revised Appendix Q to the State Operations Manuals includes key changes to the immediate jeopardy definition. CMS also released updated online training and a template to assist surveyors.
view more »CDC Calls for Vigilance as Staph Infections Rise
Mar 5, 2019 ||A new Vital Signs report calls on health care providers to increase prevention efforts for Staphylococcus aureus infections.
view more »States Prepare for Public Health Emergencies
Feb 22, 2019 ||A new report finds that nearly 90 percent of hospitals, on average, within each state are part of a coalition to work with emergency management and public health officials to ensure emergency preparedness in their communities.
view more »Stronger Together: Join the Medical Leaders Interest Group
Feb 22, 2019 ||The Medical Leaders Interest Group gives clinical leaders an opportunity to share work, discuss common topics, and learn from essential hospital peers.
view more »The hospital-acquired condition rate, which captures 28 patient safety event measures, decreased 13 percent from 2014 to 2017.
view more »Joint Commission to Require Hospitals to Screen for Suicide Risk
Dec 10, 2018 ||Seven new requirements under the National Patient Safety Goals program require hospitals to screen for suicide risk and standardize treatment procedures.
view more »CDC Encourages Providers to Fight Antibiotic Resistance
Nov 13, 2018 ||A Centers for Disease Control & Prevention toolkit provides educational resources and social media messaging for Antibiotics Awareness Week 2018.
view more »These no-cost, downloadable cards include ready-to-use infection prevention assessment forms tailored to 19 common themes, environments, or patient populations.
view more »HHS Challenge Combats Antibiotic, Antimicrobial Resistance
Oct 5, 2018 ||This yearlong global initiative challenges governments, private industries, and nongovernmental organizations to commit to reducing antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance.
view more »Essential Hospitals Improve Patient Safety with AHRQ Toolkit
Oct 1, 2018 ||Essential hospitals MedStar Health, in Washington, D.C., and Christiana Care Health System, in Wilmington, Del., improved communication about patient safety events with a toolkit developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
view more »CMS to Update Ligature Risk Guidance
Aug 13, 2018 ||The agency will not convene a proposed task force to reduce environmental risks associated with the care of psychiatric inpatients, opting instead to use findings from The Joint Commission special report on suicide prevention in health care settings.
view more »The resources include a 12-step guide for reducing readmissions and a bilingual guide to aid patients and caregivers following discharge from the hospital.
view more »Toolkit Aims to Help Hospitals Boost Immunizations
Aug 7, 2018 ||The toolkit, released as part of National Immunization Awareness Month, includes sample news releases and articles, social media content, and media outreach tools.
view more »CDC Launches Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship Training
Jul 30, 2018 ||This second segment of a no-cost, online training course focuses on outpatient antibiotic stewardship and communicating with patients; participants can receive up to eight hours of continuing education credit.
view more »Hear how experts at Carilion Clinic created a Quality Performance Indicator Database to standardize and disseminate data and reduce preventable harm.
view more »Webinar on Best Practices for Environmental Disinfection
Jun 12, 2018 ||The June 19 webinar features a patient perspective on environmental disinfection in dialysis stations, along with strategies for enacting best practices.
view more »Special Precautions Issued for Carpuject Syringes
Jun 4, 2018 ||Amid a critical drug shortage, manufacturer Hospira released special handling instructions for lots of Carpuject Luer Lock Glass Syringe products that potentially could contain cracked needle hubs and particulate.
view more »NIH Funding Opportunity for Patient Safety Projects
May 30, 2018 ||The funding will be awarded for research on patient safety improvements in perinatal, neonatal, and pediatric care in routine hospital and intensive care settings.
view more »The agency outlines a five-step containment process and provides resources for health departments, labs, and health care providers.
view more »Joint Commission Implements Hand Hygiene Rules for Individuals
Mar 29, 2018 ||The new rules allow surveyors to penalize a hospital for a deficiency if an individual fails to perform hand hygiene in the process of direct patient care.
view more »Patient Safety Awareness Week 2018
Mar 16, 2018 ||This year's theme, We Are All Patients, encourages health care providers to stand with patients and stresses the importance of patient engagement in safe care.
view more »FDA Announces Injectable Opioid Recall
Mar 12, 2018 ||Three lots of the injectable opioid medication Hydromorphone HCl, distributed by Hospira and Teva, were recalled due to broken and cracked glass vials.
view more »CDC Launches Antibiotic Stewardship Online Training Course
Feb 21, 2018 ||Health care professionals who complete the four-part web training program are eligible to receive up to eight hours of continuing education credit.
view more »FDA Announces Philips Defibrillator Recall
Feb 14, 2018 ||Cracks in the defibrillator's gas discharge tube can allow gases to escape and the device to malfunction when used in automated external defibrillator mode.
view more »NHSN Updates Agreement to Participate and Consent
Feb 13, 2018 ||Administrators must review and sign the updated agreement by April 14 to retain access to the National Healthcare Safety Network.
view more »CMS Clarifies Ligature Risk Policy
Jan 22, 2018 ||The agency expects to release comprehensive ligature risk interpretive guidance later this year for psychiatric units of acute-care hospitals and psychiatric hospitals.
view more »The agency has found marked progress over a decade in eliminating five health care–associated infections (HAIs), and offers an update on the Department of Health and Human Services' five-year goals to reduce HAIs.
view more »Be Antibiotics Aware This Week
Nov 13, 2017 ||The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will observe Antibiotics Awareness Week with a Twitter chat and webinar on Nov. 16.
view more »These awards will support antibiotic resistance research with a focus on the human microbiome, environmental settings, and health care settings.
view more »CDC Updates C. Auris Clinical Alert
Oct 2, 2017 ||With 153 clinical C. auris cases reported in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated infection control guidelines.
view more »CDC Offers Continuing Education Video on Injection Safety
Oct 2, 2017 ||This video shares strategies to improve injection safety and reduce infection risks in narcotic diversion; participants must sign up for a free Medscape account to view the video.
view more »FDA Announces Sterile Drug Recall
Aug 28, 2017 ||The unexpired products by Bella Pharmaceuticals were distributed to health care facilities across the country from April 17 to Aug. 10; if not sterile, they could cause potentially life-threatening infections.
view more »FDA Announces Expanded Recall of PharmaTech Products
Aug 14, 2017 ||The voluntary recall has been expanded to include various dietary supplements, such as liquid vitamin D drops and liquid multivitamins marketed for infants and children.
view more »Take Part in CDC’s Inaugural Fungal Disease Awareness Week
Aug 14, 2017 ||Health professionals are encouraged to join social media campaigns, attend informational calls and webinars, and review a new fact sheet on Candida auris.
view more »CDC Dedicates $77M to Antibiotic Resistance Efforts
Aug 10, 2017 ||The funding will support state and local health departments in testing for drug-resistant fungi and promote the use of whole genome sequencing in testing.
view more »FDA Announces Diocto Recall
Aug 7, 2017 ||The stool softeners could be contaminated with B. cepacia, a bacteria that could infect patients with compromised immune systems or chronic lung conditions.
view more »FDA Announces Recall of Sodium Chloride
Aug 7, 2017 ||The voluntary recall was issued after a customer reported particulate matter in a container of the product, which later was identified as stainless steel.
view more »CDC Report Promotes Antibiotic Stewardship
Jul 31, 2017 ||The report outlines programs implemented by hospitals and public health departments across the country to improve antibiotic prescribing practices as part of the agency's Antibiotic Resistance Solutions Initiative.
view more »Recall Issued for Fujifilm Duodenoscope
Jul 28, 2017 ||Fujifilm will contact all customers by October for replacement parts and loan customers duodenoscopes to use during the replacement period.
view more »AHRQ Hosts Webinars on Antibiotic Stewardship Project
Jul 24, 2017 ||The project seeks to reduce harms caused by inappropriate antibiotic use; registration is open for a one-hour introductory webinar about the project.
view more »Despite reductions in opioid prescribing, the amount of opioids prescribed in 2015 still was triple the amount prescribed in 1999.
view more »CDC Data Suggest Drop in Health Care–Associated C. diff
Jul 3, 2017 ||Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show incidence of Clostridium difficile in hospitals and nursing homes fell for the first time in decades.
view more »CDC Shares Video on Medical Equipment Infection Risks
Jun 28, 2017 ||The video is the third in a series by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about challenges to preventing health care-associated infections.
view more »FDA Lists Reusable Medical Devices With Greatest Infection Risk
Jun 13, 2017 ||The list includes reusable medical devices with the greatest risk of transmitting an infection or performing poorly if not properly reprocessed.
view more »CDC Releases Report on Legionnaires’ Disease
Jun 6, 2017 ||The Vital Signs report notes ways to prevent the bacterial lung infection, which is fatal in 25 percent of people who contract it at a health care facility.
view more »CDC Releases Update on C. Auris Cases
May 23, 2017 ||This year, 77 U.S. cases of Candida auris have been reported; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is assisting health agencies in affected areas.
view more »CDC, FDA Issue Warning on Blood Lead Testing System
May 18, 2017 ||Magellan Diagnostics' LeadCare Analyzers could produce inaccurate blood lead test results when used with venous blood samples.
view more »The new guidance updates recommendations issued in 1999; recommendations are categorized based on the quality of available supporting evidence.
view more »Review Periods Open for Quality, Value-Based Purchasing Reports
Apr 11, 2017 ||Hospitals have until May 5 to review overall Hospital Compare star rating and until May 10 to review value-based purchasing hospital-specific reports.
view more »Recall Issued for Phillips Defibrillators
Apr 4, 2017 ||The Phillips HeartStart MRx Monitor/Defibrillator might not power up, charge, or deliver electrical shock therapy, and could unexpectedly stop pacing.
view more »Managing EHR Information is Top Patient Safety Concern
Mar 20, 2017 ||Electronic health record information management is the top patient safety concern of 2017, according to a report released by the ECRI Institute on March 13.
view more »IHI, National Patient Safety Foundation To Merge
Mar 20, 2017 ||In addition to the merger, the organizations announced the release of a public health framework to guide patient safety efforts.
view more »CDC Revises Recommendations for Controlling C. Auris
Feb 21, 2017 ||CDC recommends hospitals clean rooms of patients with Candida auris daily and post-discharge with a disinfectant that is effective against C. diff.
view more »CDC Opens Registration for 2017 NHSN Training
Jan 23, 2017 ||The course runs March 20–24 in Atlanta and includes expert content on different infection or event types, as well as antibiotic stewardship.
view more »Crew resource management, which focuses on situations prone to negative outcomes by human error, helped the Columbus, Ohio, essential hospital improve performance and generate savings.
view more »CDC Says ‘Get Smart’ About Antibiotic Stewardship
Nov 15, 2016 ||The annual event encourages relevant stakeholders and the general public to engage in antibiotic stewardship in outpatient and inpatient settings.
view more »ACGME Proposes New Requirements for Physician Training
Nov 8, 2016 ||The proposed revisions would update requirements on patient safety and quality improvement, physician well-being, team-based care & resident work hours.
view more »FDA To Host Conference Call on Heater-Cooler Contamination
Oct 27, 2016 ||Hospitals will have the opportunity to discuss the potential contamination of heater-cooler devices used during cardiopulmonary bypass procedures.
view more »Recall Issued for Dysfunctional AED Electrodes
Oct 25, 2016 ||The FDA says the recalled electrodes might not connect properly to certain AEDs, delaying electrical therapy and potentially resulting in serious patient harm.
view more »CDC, FDA Issue Alert on Potential Heater-Cooler Contamination
Oct 13, 2016 ||Stӧckert 3T heater-cooler devices used during cardiopulmonary bypass procedures might have been contaminated with M. Chimaera in the manufacturing process.
view more »An archived recording of an Oct. 11 hospital quality call with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration is now available for members of America's Essential Hospitals.
view more »CDC Guidance Helps Hospitals Prepare for Zika
Aug 29, 2016 ||The guidance outlines nine steps hospitals should take, focusing on identifying symptoms, educating patients, and reporting Zika cases to health agencies.
view more »FDA Warns against Use of Endoscope Reprocessor
Aug 19, 2016 ||FDA said hospitals by now should have transitioned to alternative duodenoscope cleaning methods after a recall last year.
view more »CDC Announces $67M To Tackle Antibiotic Resistance
Aug 2, 2016 ||Funding will support work related to CDC Antibiotic Resistance Solutions Initiative, National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.
view more »Gain an in-depth understanding on how to use the AHRQ Quality Indicators to improve quality and safety of care at your hospital.
view more »CMS Seeks Comment on Concurrent Opioid Prescribing Measure
Jul 6, 2016 ||Agency will use measure to calculate the proportion of adult patients with active, concurrent prescriptions for opioids or for an opioid and benzodiazepine at discharge.
view more »CDC Awards $26M for Patient Safety Research
Jun 28, 2016 ||The funding was distributed as part of the Prevention Epicenters Program, which aims to develop and test new approaches to patient safety and infection prevention.
view more »CDC, FDA Investigate Multistate B. cepacia Outbreak
Jun 27, 2016 ||CDC has received multiple reports of Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia) infection clusters in pediatric intensive care units.
view more »Hospital-Specific HAC Reports Might Contain Error
Jun 14, 2016 ||The HAC reports might have contained the incorrect hospital name in one table. CMS will distribute new reports to affected hospitals.
view more »CDC Calls on Hospitals To Fight Rising Legionnaires’ Disease
Jun 7, 2016 ||CDC's June Vital Signs finds that the number of U.S. residents with Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever increased 286 percent from 2000 to 2014.
view more »CMS Releases New Fire Safety Requirements for Hospitals
May 3, 2016 ||The new provisions include updated sprinkler requirements and increased flexibility to allow for facility modernization. Hospitals and other health care facilities must comply with the regulations by July 3.
view more »CDC Issues Zika Guidance on OB PPE, Pregnancy Planning
Mar 30, 2016 ||To prevent spread, agency recommends personal protective equipment (PPE) for labor and delivery personnel and delays in conception, sexual activity for those with symptoms.
view more »CDC Releases Opioid Prescription Guidance
Mar 22, 2016 ||The new recommendations are based on principles that promote alternative therapies and minimum effective opioid dosage. CDC also released fact sheets and other resources.
view more »CLABSI Prevention Guide Updated
Mar 22, 2016 ||Guide gives providers best practices in fight against central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), one of the most deadly health care-associated infections annually in the United States.
view more »CDC Events, Report Focus on Patient Safety
Mar 3, 2016 ||The CDC has organized two events for Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 13-19, and is releasing new patient safety–focused materials on its website.
view more »PENTAX Issues New Duodenoscope Reprocessing Instructions
Feb 25, 2016 ||New instructions are validated by the FDA to ensure they meet proper guidelines to avoid transmission of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
view more »Article Reviews Progress 15 Years after ‘To Err is Human’
Dec 23, 2015 ||New journal article notes challenges remain since IOM published report, but also points out progress, including reducing CLABSI rates nationwide.
view more »CDC Announces Upcoming Opioid Prescribing Guidance
Dec 16, 2015 ||The guidance, open for a 30-day public comment period, will give providers more clarity on the appropriate use of opioid prescriptions outside of cancer and palliative care; comments are due Jan. 13.
view more »HAC Reductions Continue to Save Lives, Dollars in 2014
Dec 8, 2015 ||Like earlier report, new AHRQ data show that hospitals continued to reduce HAC rates by 17 percent in 2014.
view more »Toolkit Helps Hospitals with Clinical Alarms Safety Goal
Dec 2, 2015 ||Hospitals must establish and implement policies and procedures for managing alarms starting Jan. 1, 2016.
view more »FDA Warns of Hydrophilic, Hydrophobic Coatings Risk
Dec 2, 2015 ||Benefits of coated, intravascular devices outweigh risks, but hospitals and other providers should remain vigilant and report adverse events, agency says
view more »Drug Strategy Would Limit Opioid Sources for At-Risk Patients
Nov 25, 2015 ||Obama administration proposal would add drug utilization review and restriction program to Medicare to fight opioid overuse.
view more »Endoscope Reprocessors Recalled by Custom Ultrasonics
Nov 17, 2015 ||FDA cites violations of federal law that could result in an increased risk of infection transmission by company's equipment.
view more »Dirty Endoscopes Ranks First on 2016 Health Hazards List
Nov 13, 2015 ||New report from ECRI Institute also lists failure to respond to clinical alarms, unsafe injection practices, and insufficient training among top hazards.
view more »HHS Evaluates Progress Toward Triple Aim
Nov 9, 2015 ||Report on National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care details progress made toward better care, lower costs, and improved health.
view more »CDC to Award Hospitals for Improved Blood Clot Prevention
Nov 6, 2015 ||Initiative seeks to strengthen healthcare-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention, raise awareness of successful strategies, and recognize investment in VTE prevention.
view more »HHS Launches Interactive Opioid Drug Mapping Tool
Nov 4, 2015 ||Tool gives physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals access to geographic comparisons of opioid prescribing habits and use.
view more »Explore the role of communications in response to a crisis.
view more »CDC: Hospitals Should Assess Heater-Cooler Units
Oct 26, 2015 ||Hospitals should assess units to ensure they are safe and properly maintained and not contaminated with non-tuberculosis mycobacterium. Patients who may have been exposed to NTM should monitor signs of potential infection for several years.
view more »Patient Engagement is Critical to Infection Prevention
Oct 19, 2015 ||International Infection Prevention Week, Oct. 18-24, raises awareness of patient and family engagement, hand hygiene in infection prevention and patient safety
view more »CDC, CMS Emphasize Accurate NHSN Reporting
Oct 7, 2015 ||Agencies say anecdotal reports of intentional nonreporting of infection data have prompted them to emphasize the importance of accurate reporting through strict adherence to NHSN definitions.
view more »Device Reprocessing Recommendations Updated
Oct 5, 2015 ||CDC and FDA remove language from guidelines that requires health care facilities to verify that vendors involved in maintaining, cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing reusable medical devices are certified by the manufacturer.
view more »Proper Device Reprocessing Is Key for Patient Safety
Sep 16, 2015 ||The CDC and FDA issued a health advisory alerting providers and facilities to properly maintain, clean, disinfect, and sterilize reusable medical devices. Noncompliance creates a gap in patient safety.
view more »Members Defy Uneven Progress in Fight Against Sepsis
Sep 1, 2015 ||We're making progress in the fight against sepsis - and essential hospitals are doing their part - but we still have much work left to do.
view more »Reducing Sepsis, Saving Lives
Aug 3, 2015 ||Webinar on reducing sepsis through early detection, patient and family engagement, and evidence-based management
view more »Effort, spearheaded by Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, virtually eliminated early term deliveries with patient, physician engagement
view more »The CDC has added a tool to the NHSN that will rank hospital facilities and units by HAI rate so staff can see areas most in need of help.
view more »CDC Issues Protocol for Testing Duodenoscopes for Bacteria
Mar 12, 2015 ||Announcement follows recent "superbug" outbreaks at two Los Angeles hospitals that occurred without identified lapses of infection control
view more »Uniting on Patient and Family Engagement
Mar 12, 2015 ||Growing evidence shows that engaging patients and their families in care produces safer patient care and better outcomes
view more »Essential Hospitals Do Their Part to Reduce Medical Errors
Feb 3, 2015 ||Amid troubling reports, essential hospitals work diligently to improve patient safety and reduce medical errors - and succeed
view more »HHS Announces Continued Reductions in HACs
Dec 2, 2014 ||Preliminary estimates show that hospital patients experienced 1.3 million fewer hospital-acquired conditions from 2010 to 2013.
view more »Members took an in-depth look at UHC's quality and accountability study to see how association members compare to nonmembers
view more »Jacobi Medical Center implements multiple proven solutions and systemwide communication to reduce CAUTIs
view more »Maricopa Targets Zero HAIs by Going ‘Back to Basics’
Sep 2, 2014 ||Using a diligent campaign of education, communication, and process changes aimed at reducing hospital-acquired infections, Maricopa Integrated Health System improved patient safety, reduced the incidence of infection, and shortened patients’ length of stay.
view more »Numerous essential hospitals were named to Hospitals & Health Networks magazine's list of 2014 most wired hospitals
view more »Care Coordination Models, Patient Safety Partnerships, and More
Jul 16, 2014 ||Recent articles from Health Affairs, the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, the Journal for Healthcare Quality, and The New England Journal of Medicine explore efforts to reduce readmissions and infection rates, improve patient safety, and more.
view more »Patient-Centered Care, Cost-Sharing, Cost-Efficiency and More in these Recent Articles
Jun 3, 2014 ||Journal articles from the March and April editions of the New England Journal of Medicine explore issues including the usefulness of surgical safety checklists, the importance of promoting financial stewardship, and the impact of Medicaid cost sharing.
view more »