Ward, who has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare administration and has served in senior nursing roles in organizations across the country, spoke with HealthLeaders about what has worked in reducing serious safety events.

Now that COVID-19 has reached an endemic phase, one of the biggest challenges facing healthcare organizations is keeping communities focused on containing the virus, says Janet Tomcavage, MS, executive vice president and chief nurse executive at Geisinger Health.

Healthcare organizations are using a digital health platform to help care teams monitor wounds in real time and reduce the chance of hospital-acquired pressure injuries.

We are constantly bombarded with interpretations of code and regulation that are oftentimes extrapolations on very basic principles. Certainly, one of the cornerstones of the discussions we’ve had over the years is the sense that, when it comes to compliance, there are no magic bullets, one-size-fits-all, ways to skin the animal of your choice.

The healthcare industry has long been familiar with the problem of workplace violence. But the facts are clear:  Since COVID-19, the problem has gotten worse. Healthcare leaders need to bolster—or start—their workplace violence prevention programs, while keeping an eye on potential legislation that could help stem the tide of violent incidents.

Several pieces of U.S. legislation are seeking to address the problem of healthcare workplace violence. Let’s take a look at the latest details for two of the federal bills in the mix.

Contaminated hands are a primary vehicle in transmitting germs and viruses, which means hand hygiene remains imperative to protect patients, staff, and visitors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand hygiene is one of the most effective tools to mitigate the impact of HAIs and COVID-19—a finding that should encourage hospitals to revisit their infection control practices.

Digital tools can help providers triage mental health patients

Check patient units to ensure breast milk and other patient foods are stored correctly, encourage staff to reach out to providers if medication orders are not clear, and check crash carts for expired or missing items.

Myths and mysteries about surveys and why some Joint Commission RFIs are more about the hospital's policies than about the actual requirements.