There are one or two takeaways from the recent CMS approval of our friends from Chicago to continue accrediting critical access hospitals that gave me pause. 

Environmentally sustainable healthcare is not only a patient safety issue but can also save hospitals money in the long run, said executives with The Joint Commission (TJC) in introducing a new certification program during its annual Executive Briefing, held September 20.

Halloween is almost upon us, followed by a two-month holiday season starting with Thanksgiving and going through New Year’s. That means it’s time to review your holiday decorating policy, update it as needed, and educate new staff and veterans on what they can and cannot do.

Substance abuse and addiction are some of humanity’s oldest public health challenges. Much has been learned about the causes and treatment of substance abuse in the 8,000 years since Sumerians wrote opium prescriptions on clay tablets, and alcoholic beverages were brewed in the Yellow River Valley in 7000 BCE. That advancement in treatment is in no small part due to the work of dedicated healthcare providers. But substance abuse remains a major public health problem, and healthcare providers should know the facts and myths surrounding it.

It doesn’t take a lot to make a culture, but in the laboratory or clinic it takes a great deal of work to make a culture into a safety culture. Even when two facilities have the same polices and rules, there are still differences in leadership, personalities, methods, and expectations—all of which impact the quality and safety for staff and patients.