Patient Safety Awareness Week March 13-19; NPSF Offers Free Resources, Webcast, Twitter Chat

Patient Safety Awareness Week is March 13-19, 2016, and is designed to promote the message that “every day is patient safety day.” The week is a highlight of the The National Patient Safety Foundation’s (NPSF) United for Patient Safety campaign, a campaign designed to spark dialogue and promote action to improve the safety of the healthcare system for patients and the workforce, and launches a yearlong effort to highlight issues important to reducing harm to patients, and to the organizations united in this mission, while providing the opportunity for discussions, events, and engagement by those dedicated to this cause.

The United for Patient Safety campaign emphasizes and reinforces that everyone in the healthcare system has a role to play in keeping patients safe and free from harm, and is an ongoing education and engagement campaign that works to bring together diverse organizations with a commitment to patient safety and the general public to learn more about the topic, start important dialogue, and take action for improved safety conditions.

More information about the campaign and how to take part is available on the United for Patient Safety website.

To support Patient Safety Awareness Week, NPSF is offering the following FREE interactive media activities and educational resources:

Free NPSF Webscast on Evaluation of Perioperative Medication Errors and Adverse Drug Events

This complimentary National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) Professional Learning Series (PLS) webcast provides a foundation for understanding concepts around medication errors (MEs) and adverse drug events (ADEs), including challenges around data acquisition, use and implementation of solutions. The focus is on identifying, evaluating and classifying types of perioperative medication errors and adverse drug events as well as solutions that may have the potential to prevent them.  Understanding and evaluating perioperative MEs and ADEs is a critical step in designing and implementing targeted, measurable and cost-effective solutions.

Learning Objectives

• To define and explain the terms medication error and adverse drug event.
• To identify, evaluate, and classify types of medication errors and adverse drug events in the operating room.
• To evaluate and compare various methods for obtaining data on medication errors and adverse drug events.
• To identify and classify solutions that may have the potential to prevent perioperative medication errors and adverse drug events.

Featured Speaker

Karen C. Nanji, MD, MPH
Anesthesiologist, Massachusetts General Hospital
Assistant Professor of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School

For more information visit the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) website.

Joint Commission “Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification” Webinar Now Online, Free Access

For those who was unable to join the July 17, 2012 Joint Commission ‘Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification’ webinar, both the recorded webinar and the webinar slides are now available for viewing free of charge.

The objectives of the ‘Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification’ webinar are to:

• Present a revision to the CSC eligibility criteria and DSPM 1, EP 2, c & d regarding the volume needed for clipping and coiling procedures for aneurysm.
• Clarify The Joint Commission’s position on the meaning of “available 24/7” for staff and licensed independent practitioners.
• Answer additional questions received recently regarding CSC certification requirements.

The recorded ‘Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification’ webinar is available at this link. The webinar slides are available here.

More information about Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification is available on The Joint Commission website at this link.

Free Webinar: Demystifying the Disinfectant Label: A Step-by-Step Approach for Success

Presented by Infection Control Today and sponsored by PDI Healthcare, this free, on-demand webinar – ‘Demystifying the Disinfectant Label: A Step-by-Step Approach for Success’ – provides a methodical approach to evaluate and effectively use healthcare disinfectants so you can be sure you are making the right decision for your facility.

Every day Infection Preventionists, Environmental Services Professionals, and other healthcare personnel face significant challenges due to evolving technology, healthcare reform and, of course, time constraints. Monitoring and selecting healthcare products that are continually released, updated and retired from the marketplace adds to these challenges. Surface disinfectant products are no exception.  Choosing the right disinfectant products must be a carefully made decision but it shouldn’t be burdensome. This webinar will provide a methodical approach to evaluate and effectively use healthcare disinfectants so you can be sure you are making the right decision for your facility. Topics covered include:

• Understanding Product Labels
• Evaluating Broad Spectrum Efficacy Claims
• Adhering to Overall Contact Time
• Meeting Regulatory Requirements for Compliance with US EPA FIFRA requirements
• Educating Staff to Improve Compliance and Outcomes

Note: This activity is provided by Infection Control Today, a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 15619, for 1.0 contact hour of continuing education.

The ‘Demystifying the Disinfectant Label: A Step-by-Step Approach for Success’ webinar, including a downloadable PowerPoint presentation, is available at this link. Free registration is required.

HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Publishes HIPAA Audit Protocol

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has made public its long-awaited HIPAA audit protocol, posting it on its website June 26, 2012.

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which amended the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in 2009, required OCR to conduct a pilot audit program to assess HIPAA compliance. OCR established the audit protocol, which is searchable and organized around modules, to conduct the audits. The first 20 preliminary audits have been conducted; in all, 115 covered entities will be audited in the pilot program, which will end in December 2012.

The audit protocol covers the following requirements:

• The Privacy Rule requirements for (1) notice of privacy practices for PHI, (2) rights to request privacy protection for PHI, (3) access of individuals to PHI, (4) administrative requirements, (5) uses and disclosures of PHI, (6) amendment of PHI, and (7) accounting of disclosures.
• The Security Rule requirements for administrative, physical, and technical safeguards.
• The requirements for the Breach Notification Rule.

The goal of the audits is to analyze trends, improve overall compliance, and identify best practices, according to Linda Sanches, senior advisor for health information privacy at OCR, reporting on the audits at an OCR/National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conference earlier this month. OCR does not plan to penalize auditees found in violation, though it will do so if it uncovers “serious compliance issues,” she said.

Sanches reported that the preliminary audits have uncovered many violations of HIPAA, with the most problems (65 percent) in keeping electronic patient data secure.

“There are more struggles and more individual requirements [in the security rule],” she noted. Two of the biggest areas of weakness found were in entities’ failure to conduct risk analysis to identify vulnerabilities in their security programs, and to manage any risks found.

Conducting a risk analysis is also a requirement of the Meaningful Use incentive program.

“It is no longer acceptable to be noncompliant,” warned Leon Rodriguez, director of OCR, who also spoke at the conference.

Sanches recommended that covered entities use the protocol to conduct self-audits of their compliance with HIPAA. She also recommended that they find, track, and account for all patient data, including those on new devices, and use the guidance on OCR’s website.

OCR has been in the hot seat for lax enforcement of HIPAA. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) just chastised OCR in a June 2012 Report to Congressional Committees (GAO-12-605) for not yet establishing plans for continuing the audit program after this pilot and recommended that it improve guidance and oversight of HIPAA compliance.

The OCR HIPAA audit protocol is available on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website at this link.

The archived webcast of the June 6-7, 2012 OCR/NIST “Safeguarding Health Information: Building Assurance through HIPAA Security” conference is available at this link.

Credit: FierceHealthIT

CMS Begins Enforcing New HIPAA Transaction Standards July 1, 2012, Version 5010 Resources Available

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is reminding health care providers and others covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that they must comply with the new Version 5010 and D.0 transaction standards for electronic health care claims by July 1, 2012.

The standards took effect January 1, 2012, but CMS twice delayed enforcement due to low compliance among some trading partners and reports that many covered entities were still awaiting software upgrades. As of July 1, 2012, non-compliance complaints received in CMS’ HIPAA Administrative Simplification Enforcement Tool will be subject to enforcement action under the existing HIPAA transaction and code set enforcement process.

Entities still experiencing issues regarding use of the Version 5010, D.0 and 3.0 standards in their transactions should refer to their respective vendor, clearinghouse, payer’s website or provider service department for assistance, CMS said. For more information, visit www.cms.gov.

WEDI-CMS-Industry Collaboration & Problem Solving Webinar

To address the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI), CMS, and private industry concerns about remaining ASC X12 implementation-related issues, stakeholders came together to help the entire health care industry become fully complaint in ASC X12 5010 implementation. A multi-tiered campaign was launched to gather feedback, track challenges, and identify and provide guidance to correcting ASC X12 5010 implementation-related issues, especially among commercial payers.

On April 19, 2012, WEDI partnered with CMS on a webinar about industry collaboration and problem solving. View the WEDI-CMS PowerPoint and audio recording from the webinar to learn more.

Version 5010 Resources

CMS has developed the following fact sheets to help prepare you for the transition to Version 5010:

• FAQs: Versions 5010 and D.0 Transition Basics
• Versions 5010, D.0, and 3.0 Overview
• Version 5010: Testing Readiness, What You Need to Know
• Talking to Your Vendors About ICD-10 and Version 5010

Responses to Technical Comments about Version 5010

The Responses to Technical Comments on Version 5010 document is a compilation of the technical comments received during the public comment period of the proposed rule to adopt modifications to the HIPAA standards; specifically, Version 5010 of the X12 standard. The document includes the analysis and responses from subject matter experts affiliated with the Standards Development Organization (X12).

Further information and resources related to Version 5010 implementation, including an option to sign up for email update messages, is available on the ICD-10 – Version 5010 page on the CMS website.

 

Free Webinar: ‘HIPAA Compliance: What to Expect From an OCR Audit?’

Presented by HIPAA Survival Guide, on June 21, 2012 from 2:00pm – 3:00pm EDT, The Compliancy Group offers a free ‘HIPAA Compliance: What to Expect From an OCR Audit?’ webinar.

This webinar explores the same subject matter as this month’s main HIPAA Survival Guide news article. The objective of the webinar is to demystify what you should expect from an audit by clearly exposing what a HITECH / HIPAA audit must be based on, according to the relevant statutes and regulations.

Register here for the free ‘HIPAA Compliance: What to Expect From an OCR Audit?’ webinar.

Joint Commission ‘Managing Medical Equipment & Utility Systems Review’ Webinar Now Online, Free Access

For those who was unable to join the May 18, 2012 Joint Commission Resources ‘Managing Medical Equipment & Utility Systems Review’ webinar, featuring George Mills, MBA, FASHE, CEM, CHFM, CHSP, Director of Engineering for The Joint Commission, both the webinar slides and the recorded webinar, which includes the slides embedded in the audio presentation, are now available for viewing free of charge.

Here is the ‘Managing Medical Equipment & Utility Systems Review’ webinar synopsis from the Joint Commission Resources website:

“Inspecting, testing and maintaining medical equipment and utility systems is a critical component to managing risks in your organization. Due to the recently published CMS directive requiring hospitals to comply strictly with manufacturer recommendations, greater attention is being focused on this process. The methods an organization uses to manage this process are at the forefront of many healthcare facilities manager’s minds. Join us for this complimentary 30-minute webinar as George Mills, MBA, FASHE, CEM, CHFM, CHSP, Director of Engineering for The Joint Commission, reviews the EC.02.04.01 and EC.02.05.01 standards.”

The webinar slides are attached to this post, and the link to the recorded webinar is included below. Additionally, the “CMS directive” referenced in the synopsis – CMS Memorandum S&C: 12-07-Hospital – Clarification of Hospital Equipment Maintenance Requirements – is available on the CMS website at this link.

Recorded ‘Managing Medical Equipment & Utility Systems Review ‘webinar: http://www.aami.org/tmc/videos/ManagingMedicalEquipmentandUtilitySystemsReview.wmv

Managing Medical Equipment & Utility Systems Review webinar slides (PDF)

AHRQ Releases Final Podcast in ‘Quality Indicators Toolkit for Hospitals’ Series, Free Toolkit Still Available, First 5 Podcasts Archived

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released the last two audio interviews in a series focused on the use of quality improvement tools in the AHRQ Quality Indicators TM Toolkit for Hospitals. The toolkit is a free resource to guide hospitals through the process of using the AHRQ Inpatient Quality Indicators (IQIs) and Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) to improve care.

• Implementing Changes to Improve Performance on the IQI or PSI Measures:  Joseph Jensen, MD, from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center talks about the process of implementing changes in the hospital to improve performance on the IQIs and PSIs.
• Achieving Sustainable Improvements: Martha Radford, MD, from NYU Langone Medical Center offers advice on planning for the sustainability of a hospital’s improvements to the AHRQ QIs.

Download these interviews at http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qitoolkitinterviews. (Audio file and transcript are available.)

The first 5 podcasts are also available:

• Getting Started with the AHRQ QI Toolkit
• Analyzing Your IQI and PSI Rates
• Using the Documentation and Coding Tool
• Identifying Your Improvement Priorities
• Analyzing Your Barriers and Strategy Options

Download the AHRQ Quality Indicators TM Toolkit for Hospitals at: http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qitoolkit

Access the slide presentations and an audio recording from an introductory webinar about the Toolkit at: http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qitoolkit/webinar0215/index.html

More information on the AHRQ Quality Indicators is available at: http://www.qualityindicators.ahrq.gov/

Credit: AHRQ