Patient Safety

Joint Commission’s Recommendations on Creating a Culture of Safety

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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How Biomedical Engineering Can Help In The Fight Against Hospital Acquired Infections

Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) continue to be a focus area for hospital departments such as infection control and sterile processing departments.  Infection control has been a key area of focus by many US hospitals due to the huge financial and reputational risk that exists when an outbreak of a superbug occurs in a hospital.  Biomedical

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Medical Groups Come Out In Support Of The Importance Of Scientific Evidence

Hospital Management, Patient Safety, The Business of Surgery /

Recently, dozens of societies representing different members of the medical community joined together to support the appreciation of scientific evidence, education and investment.  Groups as varied as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association and the Association of American Cancer Institutes joined the cause to fight what they feel is an onslaught of

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4 Steps To Increase Patient Safety In Your Hospital

Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

Hospitals continue to pursue patient safety initiatives as part of the overall shift in US Healthcare from volume to value.  After all, hospital acquired infections (HAIs) quickly increase the cost of a procedure and will directly affect your bottom-line.  This is on top of any damage to your hospital’s reputation that may occur from an

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Interview with Damien Berg – Sterile Processing Expert, Candidate for IAHCSMM President

Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

I recently had a chance to sit down with Damien Berg.  Damien is the Manager of Sterile Processing at St. Anthony Hospital in Colorado, and he is running for IAHCSMM President-Elect in this year’s election.  As the election is already underway, I wanted to sit down with Damien to understand his platform and interest in

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Why The Joint Commission Is Hung Up On Scopes

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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3 Dangers of Expired Medical Devices

Cath Lab, Operating Rooms, Operational Efficiency, Patient Safety, Radiology, The Business of Surgery /

A recent survey conducted by Cardinal Health showed that 24% of hospital staff have seen or heard of an expired product being used on a patient during a procedure.  This comes as no surprise, as we have witnessed the usage of expired inventory at hospitals first-hand.  Without the proper processes and vigilance to prevent these

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Is Your Endoscope Management Practice Accountable?

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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Olympus Scopes Tied To Another Outbreak

Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

Newly found evidence has revealed that Olympus duodenoscopes have been tied to another infection outbreak.  Per the report filed with the FDA, a foreign facility saw five of its patients who were treated with Olympus duodenoscopes infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae.  The facility’s name and location were not included in the report, however it was reported

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Are Duodenoscopes Safe To Use?

Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

Many eyebrows were raised following 2016’s recall of duodenoscope model TJF-Q180V by Olympus.  The voluntary recall was intended to replace the problematic elevator channel sealing mechanisms in the 4,400 Olympus duodenoscopes that were issued prior to 510k clearance for the device.  Olympus planned to complete the recall by August 2016 and also planned to conduct

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