UC San Diego Health Ranks No. 1 in San Diego, Makes National Honor Roll

U.S. News & World Report ranks 10 medical and surgical specialties at UC San Diego Health among the nation’s best.

Majority of Nurses Attribute Well-Being Struggles to Staffing Shortages

With projected national shortages of 63,720 registered nurses in 2030 and 141,580 licensed practical nurses in 2035, a new survey finds one-third of nurses plan to leave the profession in the next two years.

USC Verdugo Hills Hospital nationally recognized with first ‘A’ hospital safety grade

For the first time, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH) earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, for achieving the highest national standards in patient safety. This achievement places USC-VHH among top tier hospitals in the nation for safety and quality.

American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Neuromuscular Blockade Guidelines Will Improve Patient Safety and Satisfaction

The latest guidance in addressing proper monitoring and reversal of neuromuscular blockade drugs during general anesthesia – a major advance in patient safety and satisfaction – was published today in Anesthesiology, the American Society of Anesthesiologist’s (ASA) peer-reviewed medical journal.

University of Chicago Medical Center earns 22nd consecutive ‘A’ grade for patient safety, retains 10-year run in elite group

The University of Chicago Medical Center has earned its 22nd consecutive ‘A’ grade in hospital and patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, extending a 10-year run of scoring top honors from the independent watchdog organization. Of the thousands of acute-care facilities nationwide, the 811-bed University of Chicago Medical Center is one of only 22 hospitals in the country to have earned the top grade in all 22 of The Leapfrog Group’s semiannual report cards, which began in 2012.

American Society of Anesthesiologists Welcomes GE Healthcare as Industry Supporter

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) today announced GE Healthcare, a global medical technology and digital solutions company, as a new ASA Industry Supporter, bolstering the work of the Society in improving patient safety and the delivery of high-quality care before, during, and after surgery.

AACN Study Underscores Pandemic Damage and the Benefits of Healthy Work Environments

Results from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ national survey of 9,000-plus nurses underscore the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurses and the benefits of creating healthy work environments to support nurse staffing, retention and optimal patient care.

Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Calls on Health Care Systems to Make Systemic Changes to Stop Medical Errors: Criminalization Not the Answer

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF), a related organization of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), released a statement on the criminalization of medical errors with a call to action to all health care systems and organizations to establish comprehensive mechanisms to mitigate the risk of future errors.

AACN Rounds with Leadership – Sustaining a Culture of Safety

The joy connected with hosting an in-person AACN Deans Annual Meeting last month was tempered by the news of the criminal conviction of former nurse RaDonda Vaught for making a fatal medication error. Despite numerous system failures contributing to this tragic accident, the individual nurse was held responsible for this terrible outcome, even though she was forthcoming about the unintentional errors made.

Accreditation in healthcare quality and safety: First standards for graduate programs

Initial standards for accreditation of graduate programs in the burgeoning professional discipline of healthcare quality and safety (HQS) are presented in the November/December issue of American Journal of Medical Quality (AJMQ), official journal of the American College of Medical Quality (ACMQ). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

American Society of Anesthesiologists Welcomes Medtronic as Industry Supporter for Seventh Year

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) today announced Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), a global leader in medical technology, as an ASA Industry Supporter for the seventh year, supporting the work of the Society and physician anesthesiologists to improve patient safety and brain health during and following surgical procedures.

American Society of Anesthesiologists and Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Say Preoperative Testing for COVID-19 is Essential, Regardless of Vaccination

All patients undergoing non-emergency surgeries or procedures should continue to have preoperative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for SARS-CoV-2, irrespective of vaccination status, according to an updated guidance from the American Society of Anesthesiologists and Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation.

ACR Releases Position Statement on Patient Safety and Site of Service for Biologics

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has released an updated position statement on patient safety and site of service for biologics outlining several reasons why the ACR strongly believes infusions should be administered in a monitored health care setting with onsite supervision by a provider with appropriate training in biologic infusions.

Henry Ford Hospital Launches Program to Enhance Patient Safety, Reduce Workplace Injuries

Henry Ford Hospital has partnered with Atlas Lift Tech, Inc. and Arjo Diligent Clinical Consultants to launch a program aimed at enhancing the safety of patients and team members. The program, named Project Mobility: How Motown Moves, was implemented with Henry Ford’s focus on safety, continual improvement, and innovation in mind.

Morristown Medical Center Among 1st to Receive American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Certification

Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center has received American College of Cardiology (ACC) Transcatheter Valve Certification, a designation of excellence that recognizes demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients undergoing transcatheter valve repair and replacement procedures, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Navigating the COVID-19 crisis to prevent pressure injuries: Learning health system helped one hospital adapt and update care in real time

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems scrambled to modify patient care processes – particularly when it came to strategies aimed at reducing the risk of hospital-related complications. A look at how one hospital applied its learning health system (LHS) framework to respond to a COVID-19-related increase in hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) is presented in the May/June Journal for Healthcare Quality (JHQ), the peer-reviewed journal of the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Nurse-Driven Initiative Cuts CAUTI Rates in the ICU

An initiative at UPMC Williamsport used education and practice-related interventions to quickly reduce CAUTI rates and lay the groundwork for hospital-wide implementation with long-term impact. The bundle included a daily checklist and nurse-driven removal protocol for discontinuing indwelling catheter use.

Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center Offers Tips to Help Patients Stay Safe: Patient Safety Awareness Week is March 14-20, 2021

In recognition of Patient Safety Awareness Week, Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center offers tips to help patients stay safe and take an active role in their care.  Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 14 – 20, 2021, is observed annually to…

Patient Safety Week: Sleep Experts Available for Interviews to Discuss Sleep Center Safety, and Why Sleep is Essential to Health

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients are delaying or avoiding care for common, treatable sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia. Putting off needed care for sleep disorders can have negative long-term consequences for overall health and…

American College of Surgeons verifies first hospital that meets its standardized quality criteria for geriatric surgery

The American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Verification Program (ACS GSV) has announced that Unity Hospital, Rochester, N.Y., has achieved Level 1—Comprehensive Excellence verification status, which recognizes its commitment to providing optimal care for its older adult surgical patients by meeting the GSV’s program standards.

Johns Hopkins Medicine Hosts Briefing on COVID-19: One Year Later

A Woman’s Journey will host a 90-minute virtual event, “COVID-19: One Year Later,” during which Johns Hopkins Medicine experts will address important issues related to COVID-19 such as new and available treatments and vaccine safety and efficacy. Registrants will learn about the continued urgency of public health measures to mitigate the pandemic despite the introduction of vaccines, what distinguishes the leading vaccine contenders in their methodology, safety and effectiveness, and symptoms and insights surrounding lingering deficits in physical function, mental health and cognition among COVID-19 survivors.

AAPM Advances Best Practices for Patient Safety in X-Ray Imaging

Since April 2019, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine has championed a critical way to make X-ray imaging safer and more effective by discontinuing the long-standing practice of placing leaded shields over patient gonads. Today, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements released a statement recommending the discontinuation of routine shielding of patient gonads during X-ray imaging exams and AAPM stands ready to help imaging providers, patients and caregivers to understand and adopt these new best practices – practices that will ensure safer and higher-quality X-ray exams.

Doctors motivated by both health, malpractice concerns when ordering additional tests

A UCLA-led study has found that dermatopathologists, who specialize in diagnosing skin diseases at the microscopic level, are motivated both by patient safety concerns and by malpractice fears — often simultaneously — when ordering multiple tests and obtaining second opinions, with a higher proportion of these doctors reporting patient safety as a concern.
When ordering additional microscopic tests for patients, 90% of the dermatopathologists surveyed cited patient safety as a concern and 71% of them reported malpractice fears. Similarly, when obtaining second reviews from a consulting pathologist or recommending additional surgical sampling, 91% cited safety concerns and 78% malpractice concerns.

AQI Receives Support from Edwards Lifesciences to Improve Data Collection and Analysis of Low Blood Pressure

The Anesthesia Quality Institute (AQI), a related organization of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), announced today a quality-driven initiative dedicated to further developing the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry (NACOR), the largest anesthesia registry in the country. The initiative, supported by Edwards Lifesciences, represents a shared vision between AQI and Edwards to improve data collection and analysis, including new tracking and feedback of intraoperative hypotension (low blood pressure), to better inform future quality standards that can positively impact patient outcomes.

Jersey Shore University Medical Center Achieves Healthgrades 2020 Patient Safety Excellence AwardTM

Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ, announced it is a recipient of the Healthgrades 2020 Patient Safety Excellence AwardTM. This distinction places the academic medical center among the top 5 percent of all short-term acute care hospitals reporting patient safety data as evaluated by Healthgrades, the leading resource that connects consumers, physicians, and health systems.

ASTRO survey: Fewer patient visits despite enhanced COVID-19 safety measures for radiation oncology clinics

Despite facing challenges such as limited access to PPE during the COVID-19 outbreak, radiation oncology clinics quickly implemented safety enhancements that allowed them to continue caring for cancer patients, according to a new national survey from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). All 222 physician leaders in the survey collected April 16-30 said their practices continued to provide radiation therapy, yet 85% also reported declines in patient visits, and by an average of one-third.