PERIOPERATIVE NEWS
UPDATE
November 2008
INFECTION PREVENTION
Infection control guidelines released
New guidelines were released in October aimed at preventing several potentially lethal hospital-acquired infections.
The Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals, available free through Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, is the result of a partnership of infection prevention and accreditation organizations, including The Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the American Hospital Association (AHA), The Joint Commission, and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
The Compendium features guidelines on four device or procedure-related healthcare-associated infections, including Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile.
Listen to the Oct. 8 Webcast announcing the Compendium here.
DEVICE SAFETY
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators might pose risk of explosion,
electric shock during postmortem removal
ECRI Institute in October released a health device alert warning clinicians and mortuary personnel of the potential explosion and electric shock risk involved with implantable cardiovascular defibrillators.
The U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) initially confirmed the issue, with recommendations that facilities identify the manufacturer and model of the implanted device before removal. More details on the alert are available here.
HEALTHCARE COSTS
Cost prevents cancer patients from seeking care, study says
A recent study detailed in USA Today shows one-in-four cancer patients who earned less than $40,000 a year refused treatment during the advanced stages of the disease. The report, based on a Thomson Reuters survey reflects the results of a study published by Cancer in 2006.
In that same study, numbers showed that about 20% of Americans have trouble paying health care expenses, and that one in 10 surveyed was unable to pay for basic expenses, such as food, energy and housing.
See the full story here.
WORKPLACE SAFETY
OSHA releases updated surgical module for Hospital eTool
With consultation from AORN, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released an updated surgical module included with its Hospital eTool, an interactive online resource on OSHA compliance in the hospital setting.
The updated surgical module includes new information on laser safety, bloodborne pathogens, waste anesthetic gases and other topics. OSHA developed the update to this module with input from AORN, as well as The Joint Commission, Joint Commission Resources, Laser Institute of America, American Biological Safety Association, the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses and the Association of Occupational Health Professionals.
Along with these organizations, AORN is a member of OSHA's Alliance Program. To learn more about AORN's participation in this program, visit aorn.org/PracticeResources/SafetyResources/WorkplaceSafety/OSHAAlliance.
Access the OSHA Hospital eTool.
QUALITY
Top U.S. hospitals report 70% lower death rates
Top-ranked hospitals in the United States have 70% lower death rates than at the lowest-ranked U.S. hospitals, according to a study that examined 41 million patient records at 5,000 U.S. hospitals over a three-year period.
The HealthGrades Hospital Quality in American Study focused on 17 procedures, including coronary bypass surgery, gastrointestinal surgeries, and procedures and valve replacement surgery. Between 2005 to 2007, top-performing, five-star hospitals' overall death rates declined at a faster rate (about 13.2%) than poorer performing hospitals (12.3% for one-star hospitals).
The study findings also suggested that 237,420 Medicare patient deaths could potentially have been prevented between 2005-2007 if all U.S. hospitals performed at the level of top-rated, five-star hospitals.
The East North Central Region of the U.S. had the highest percentage of best-performing hospitals in the study, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Patients with heart failure and those undergoing pulmonary, stroke and cardiac surgery were noted as having the greatest hospital death rate variations between states, according to the study released Oct. 14.
HealthGrades used the study findings for its latest quality ratings for all nonfederal hospitals in the U.S. Find out how your hospital ranked by visiting www.healthgrades.com.
PATIENT SAFETY
Texas newest state to join wristband standardization initiative
Texas joined more than 25 other states in a national initiative aimed at improving patient safety by adopting three standard wristband colors: purple for do-not-resuscitate, red for allergies and yellow for fall risks.
The investment in standard color wristband and staff education will improve the workplace and provide patients with a safer care environment, according to a news release from the Texas Hospital Association. To learn more about the Color-coded Wristband Standardization Project in Texas, visit www.texashospitalsonline.org.
MEDICATION SAFETY
FDA releases drug safety Web page
Healthcare professionals and patients can now visit one page on the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Web site to find a wide variety of safety information about prescription drugs. The Web page (www.fda.gov/cder/drugSafety.htm) consolidates information in one access point with links to information in varied categories, including:
- Drug labeling
- Drug-specific safety information, including safety sheets
- Regulations and guidance documents
- Consumer articles on drug safety
Establishing such a Web page is one of the requirements of the Food and Drug Amendments Act of 2007.
Read more news in AORN Connections and AORN Management Connections.