SHEA issues new guidance on contact precautions
Editor's Note The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) on January 11 released new expert guidance on contact precautions for patients with multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. The guidance advises hospitals on when they can safely discontinue contact precautions, including use of gowns, gloves, and masks. In most cases, this ranges…
Top 10 health technology hazards for 2018 named
Medical technology is intended to improve patient care, but even the best technology—if configured, used, or maintained improperly—can lead to problems. Hospitals must regularly examine their hazard control priorities to target the most pressing risks. ECRI Institute’s annual Top 10 Health Technology Hazards report identifies high-priority sources of danger or…
Night shift work increases risk of cancers in women
Editor's Note This meta-analysis of 61 articles (involving 3,909,152 patients) finds a positive relationship between long-term night shift work and several common cancers in women, including breast, digestive system, and skin cancers. A subgroup analysis found that for every 5 years of night shift work, the risk of breast cancer…
ECRI Institute issues annual technology hazards list
Editor's Note ECRI Institute on December 12 issued its list of Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2018. The list, which is available for free (registration required), identifies sources of technology dangers or difficulties and details steps to minimize the occurrence of adverse events. Topping the list is ransomware and…
FDA issues Safety Alert on human albumin 25% solution (AlbuRx 25) by CSL Behring
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 1 issued a Safety Alert for human albumin 25% solution (AlbuRx 25) by CSL Behring LLC (Kankakee, Illinois). During routine inspection, the company noted the potential for fading print on 50 mL and 100 mL vials, with more effect on…
Greater vigilance needed to combat ureteroscope contamination
A new study by Ofstead & Associates (St Paul, Minnesota) is the latest to raise concerns about infections associated with endoscopic procedures. The study, which focused on ureteroscopes, found that the techniques used to clean and sterilize or high-level disinfect flexible ureteroscopes are not sufficient and leave behind contamination including…
Remote video auditing: A path to compliance and safety
Perioperative services leaders seeking to improve safety and efficiency without sacrificing quality may want to turn to remote video auditing (RVA), which is being successfully used in hospital ORs and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). “We’ve seen improved patient safety, efficiency, and cleaning processes,” says Sheldon Newman, MD, executive vice chairman…
Violence in healthcare facilities--Know your risks
Violence is much more common in healthcare than in other industries, and although many violent events in healthcare are perpetrated by patients, a notable percentage are not. Individuals other than patients who may cause violence in healthcare settings include family members of patients and other visitors, employees, and criminals. Many…
FDA: Increased rate of major adverse events with Absorb GT1 Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 31 issued a Safety Alert saying that interim study results continue to show an increased rate of major adverse cardiac events and Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS) thrombosis in patients receiving the Absorb GT1 BVS by Abbott Vascular (Abbott Park, Illinois),…
Walk the talk: Words matter when it comes to patient safety
Every week Ann Shimek, MSN, BSN, RN, CASC, hits the road to communicate about communicating. Shimek is senior vice president of clinical operations at United Surgical Partners International (USPI) in Addison, Texas. She and her team of six clinical nurses travel among USPI’s 21 hospitals and 260 ambulatory surgery centers…
Free Daily News
- FDA medical device class 1 recalls trend upward
- Data cast doubt on recommendation to delay weight-loss meds prior to surgery
- AAMI guidance covers sterile processing of dilators, ultrasound probes
- Surgical site infections often caused by preexisting bacteria
- The Joint Commission launches new telehealth accreditation program
- FDA announces class 1 recall for disposable biopsy needle kit
- Report: Consistent, purposeful manager-team engagement reduces RN turnover
- Death, hospital readmission less likely for women treated by female doctors
- FDA announces class 1 recalls for infusion pumps, anesthesia workstation
- Study finds workforce readiness gap in new nurses