New Data on Sepsis Prevalence and Costs 'Astonished' DHHS Researchers

Source: Hospital Safety Insider

The largest sepsis study every conducted with Medicare data found a 40% increase in the rate of Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with the deadly infection from 2012 to 2018.

Vitamin and steroid treatment for sepsis fails in major study

Source: Hospital Safety Insider

Despite earlier hopes, a major study has found that infusions of vitamin C, vitamin B1, and steroids are ineffective at treating sepsis. Proponents of the treatment say the study is flawed and plan to keep using vitamin C on sepsis patients.

On your marks, get set, sweat!

Source: Mac's Safety Space

Our friends in Chicago are once again tweaking the survey process

Examine your dialysis space to ensure room to separate infectious patients

That includes a way to care for dialysis patients with hepatitis B completely separate from non–hep B dialysis patients

Dialysis tips

Here are some tips from Kathleen Good, MSN, RN, a former surveyor with The Joint Commission and now an associate of Patton Healthcare Consulting, for ensuring you keep patients safe and meet surveyor expectations

Office of Civil Rights reminds planners to consider at-risk populations

Remember that the population you serve in a catastrophic emergency might include patients with disabilities or limited English proficiency.

CMS eliminates 2nd survey for psychiatric hospitals, to merge B-tags into SOMA

The federal agency said it was integrating and streamlining the survey process for psychiatric hospitals as part of its “Patients Over Paperwork” initiative.

Use WHO guidance on 2019-nCov to review infectious disease plans

The guidance offers a variety of technical papers, including information for clinical care, infection control and prevention, and risk communication and community engagement (RCCE).

Full transparency key to stopping drug diversion in healthcare settings

Is drug diversion a problem in the healthcare setting where you work? Chances are the answer is yes—but you might not realize it yet.

Close the loop on test results: For want of a message, a life could be lost

Closed-loop communication means that every test result is sent, received, and addressed in a timely manner, and the patient is notified of the results and next steps.

Soap vs. superbugs

Since 2017, patients at 50 facilities in Chicago and Orange County, California, have been bathed using the antimicrobial soap to prevent them from contracting or spreading superbugs. Chlorhexidine has already been proven effective for bathing ICU patients and treating dental infections.

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Drug Diversion Prevention in Healthcare, Second Edition

Available March 2020

The theft of drugs and medicines by staff has vexed the healthcare industry for centuries —and with the opioid epidemic diversion the stakes are higher than ever. Drug Diversion Prevention in Healthcare, Second Edition is loaded with tools and info showing you how to make a solid prevention plan. This new edition also contains case studies and real-life examples of how healthcare staff diverted drugs, how they were caught, and the steps taken afterwards.

Written by diversion prevention expert Kim New, this book is designed to help nursing, patient safety, and hospital security officials foster awareness of drug diversion, fight the “it can’t happen here” mentality, keep staff accountable, and monitor and audit the drugs moving through your facility to ensure they reach the right patient.

Pre-order now!

Brian Ward
Editor
bward@hcpro.com


HCPro
35 Village Road, Suite 200
Middleton, MA 01949
800-650-6787
http://www.hcpro.com

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