Editor's Note The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on November 28 issued a draft strategy to reduce administrative and regulatory burdens caused by electronic health records (EHRs) and health information technology (health IT). The draft “Strategy on Reducing Regulatory and Administrative Burden Relating to the Use of Health…

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Editor' Note The Joint Commission in partnership with the American Heart Association recently approved a new certification program that will provide an independent evaluation of an organization's eligibility to qualify as a comprehensive cardiac center. After reviewing program requirements, the Joint Commission identified the following areas for revision: Collaborative model…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission on September 19 released the “Top 5” requirements identified most frequently as “not compliant” during accreditation surveys and reviews in the first half of 2018. The Top 5 most challenging for Hospital Accreditation are: LS.02.01.35 The hospital provides and maintains systems for extinguishing fires (88%).…

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We asked some top ambulatory surgery center (ASC) leaders, including members of OR Manager’s Editorial Advisory Board, to identify the top challenges ASC leaders are facing. Here are their responses. We believe you will see some of your own challenges reflected in their comments.   Mary Stewart, MSN, BSN, RN…

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Editor's Note ECRI Institute announced July 17 that it will continue providing services of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ’s) National Guideline Clearinghouse (NCG), which was shut down because of lack of funding. The federal government has relied on ECRI Institute to maintain the NCG since its inception…

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Editor's Note The ECRI Institute on May 21 announced that it had provided conclusive research to help guide the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new “FDA Report on the Quality, Safety, and Effectiveness of Servicing of Medical Devices.” The FDA report, which addresses concerns about the quality of service provided…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on April 24 issued its hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule for FY 2019. The proposed rule increases rates by 1.75%, which reflects the projected market-basket update of 2.8% for hospitals that were meaningful users of electronic health…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission on February 26 posted a reminder that whenever non-waived laboratory services are provided on-site (either directly or through contract) within a Joint Commission accredited facility, a separate 2-year cycle laboratory accreditation survey must also be conducted either by the Joint Commission or one of its…

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Editor's Note The burden and bureaucracy of today’s practice of medicine are major factors influencing physicians’ intentions to reduce work hours or leave the profession, finds this study from the American Medical Association, Mayo Clinic, and Stanford University. Of nearly 36,000 physicians across all specialties surveyed, 6,880 (19.2%) responded. Nearly 1…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new guidance designed to offer clarity on the Merit-based Incentive Payment System’s (MIPS) data blocking component, the October 30 Healthcare Informatics reports. The guidance outlines how MIPS-eligible clinicians can show they are fulfilling the information blocking requirement, which…

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