The government continues to question the neutrality of The Joint Commission (TJC) and other healthcare accreditation firms that also have consulting arms. In a recent speech Seema Verma, the head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), said her organization is continuing to evaluate options to increase oversight of accrediting firms. CMS has […]
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Many hospitals have implemented the Vocera platform to improve communications and connectivity among staff. The Badges and Smartbadges used with the Vocera platform allow clinical staff, who are typically busy rounding on patient floors and not tethered to a desk, to stay connected to their colleagues and discuss important items via calls or messages. One
A First Of Its Kind Solution For Tracking, Storing and Charging Vocera Badge Batteries Read More »
Many hospitals find it difficult to optimize staffing levels for their operations. This can be due to any number of variables that become even more extreme as the size of a hospital increases – an influx of patients can throw off carefully planned schedules; certain cases extend way past their estimated closing times; and missing
How One Hospital Optimized Their Staffing Levels Using Scope Tracking Software Read More »
Olympus has joined the list of duodenoscope manufacturers receiving the green light to market a duodenoscope with disposable components by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Following closely on the heels of Pentax and Fujifilm’s models with disposable components, and Boston Scientific’s fully disposable duodenoscope, Olympus is now cleared to sell a duodenoscope
Olympus Receives FDA Clearance For Duodenoscope With Disposable Component Read More »
Flexible endoscopes present a unique challenge for hospitals to track and manage – these expensive medical instruments must be quickly re-processed after usage in order to provide the required instrumentation for the next procedure, yet they must undergo rigorous, time-consuming reprocessing after every use to ensure the highest levels of patient safety. Due to different
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Shortly following the recent United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of the first duodenoscopes with disposable components, the bureau is now recommending that facilities move to the new models where available. The FDA firmly believes that a move to disposable parts, and in some cases fully disposable scopes, will help reduce infection risks.
FDA Issues Recommendation For Use Of Duodenoscopes With Disposable Components Read More »
A recent New York Times op-ed reinforced the widespread feeling among US physicians that they are spending too much time documenting their work in electronic health record (EHR) software. Recent estimates put physician time spent in their EHR at 50% of their workday, significantly reducing the amount of time they can spend on patient care.
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), based in Portland, OR, recently underwent a dramatic change in their endoscopy practice with the opening of the new Center for Health & Healing Building 2 (CHH2). As part of the opening, OHSU moved its endoscopy operations to a new building, with the endoscopy department and central sterile department
How One Hospital Transitioned Endoscope Reprocessing To Central Sterile Read More »
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the first fully disposable duodenoscope on the market. The industry believes that a move to disposable parts, and now fully disposable scopes, will help reduce infection risks. Poorly disinfected duodenoscopes have been linked to numerous cases of superbug outbreaks over the past several years. The
Duodenoscope Safety Continues To Move Forward With First Disposable Model Read More »
With endoscope cleaning procedures continuing to be a focus for hospitals emphasizing patient safety, the Joint Commission has also increased its scrutiny of reprocessing protocols at its member hospitals. In order to minimize the chances of using poorly reprocessed endoscopes, hospitals should concentrate on understanding endoscope instructions for use and knowing the evidence-based guidelines put
Joint Commission Increases Scrutiny Of Endoscope Reprocessing Procedures Read More »