Joint Commission

Why Your Automated Endoscope Reprocessor Is Not a Documentation System

October 9, 2017 / Clinical Documentation, Infection Control, Joint Commission, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

Hospitals and healthcare providers are under increased scrutiny by The Joint Commission (TJC), the FDA, DNV and even Congress to improve the documentation practices around flexible endoscope usage. There are articles are in the media seemingly every day about how a hospital was cited, sued or otherwise put in a negative light around their endoscope […]

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The Risk Of Improperly Trained Staff In The Endoscopy Suite

October 9, 2017 / Infection Control, Joint Commission, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

A recent incident in the Philadelphia area reminds us of the dangers that can result from improperly trained staff in the endoscopy area of a hospital.  In the incident, an elderly patient undergoing a surgical procedure had an improperly cleaned endoscope used on them during their procedure.  The incident occurred at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, outside

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Why Patient Outcomes Improve During Joint Commission Surveys

October 9, 2017 / Joint Commission, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that mortality of patients during Joint Commission surveys was reduced by 6% compared to before and after the surveys.  The study, authored by Andrew Olenski, Michael Barnett and Anupam Jena, attributed the improved patient outcomes to the “Hawthorne Effect.”  The “Hawthorne Effect” suggests that people actively

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Are You Able To Inspect What You Expect?

October 9, 2017 / Infection Control, Joint Commission, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

In hospitals, endoscopy, perioperative, sterile processing and infection control teams have done a wonderful job of teaming up together to implement solutions for effective flexible endoscope management. This area has been one of the biggest, if not the biggest, area of scrutiny by Joint Commission and other surveying agencies in the past 1.5 years. We

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Joint Commission’s Recommendations on Creating a Culture of Safety

October 12, 2021 / Infection Control, Joint Commission, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

Recently, the Joint Commission (TJC) released its recommendations on how to create a culture of safety within healthcare organizations.  As hospitals work to create safer environments for their staff and patients, a culture of safety has become tantamount to reaching their operational goals.  A culture of safety can have several positive effects at a healthcare

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Why The Joint Commission Is Hung Up On Scopes

October 9, 2017 / Infection Control, Joint Commission, Managing Endoscopes, Operating Rooms, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

In recent surveys, The Joint Commission has scrutinized the entire endoscope management process. Everyone understands this is because of the serious patient safety concerns and media attention, as well as the manufacturers of scopes and reprocessors having their own product challenges. So why is The Joint Commission so hung up on how scopes are hung

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Is Your Endoscope Management Practice Accountable?

October 9, 2017 / Infection Control, Joint Commission, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

In working with various hospitals across the country, particularly with their scope management practice, we are seeing that all caregivers absolutely have the intention of delivering at the highest level of quality and safety. As organization leaders, it is our job to help our team members meet these important goals. In working with these provider

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The Joint Commission Survey From a Hospital COO’s Perspective

October 9, 2017 / Hospital Management, Infection Control, Joint Commission, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

Recently, I had a chance to sit down with a couple of Chief Operating Officers (COOs) from hospital clients who use the iRIScope system from Mobile Aspects. The system was developed to help hospitals improve patient safety and documentation around flexible endoscope usage. According to the COOs, this has become a hot topic due to

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Advocacy Group Calls for Hospitals to Make Joint Commission Compliance Available to Public

October 9, 2017 / Hospital Management, Joint Commission, Regulatory Compliance, The Business of Surgery /

This post by Cheryl Clarke of Health Leaders Media sheds some interesting light on the future level of transparency Hospitals may be required to make public.  Chief among concerns seems to be from patients who are ultimately affected by a hospitals failure to follow compliance guidelines as well as way to prove guidelines were followed,

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