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In a recent CMS Corner, we discussed federal regulations published in the Federal Register that were effective for history and physical (H&P) exams, verbal orders, security of medications, and postanesthesia evaluations as of January 2007. Subsequent changes effective January 2008 were published for H&Ps and postanesthesia evaluations.
Editor's note: This feature explores problematic Joint Commission standards with expert advice from BOJ advisors. This month, Elizabeth Di Giacomo-Geffers, RN, MPH, CNAA, BC, a healthcare consultant in Trabuco Canyon, CA, discusses challenges surrounding medication management and black box labels. When looking at a facility's use of flash sterilization, any number of standards could apply. The appropriate standard to consult is entirely situational. Infection control would be at the forefront-IC.2.10, IC.3.10, IC.4.10, and IC.5.10 would all have some bearing on the process-but Leadership standards are also important in this situation.
During the facility's 2007 Joint Commission survey, Memorial Health University Medical Center, Inc., in Savannah, GA, received high praise from a physician/administrator surveyor regarding its emergency management plan. Specifically, the surveyor said that the facility's emergency management plan should be the model for the nation.
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics' (UIHC) staff members are accustomed to Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) surveys, but when a complaint filed with CMS led to a federal inspection, the facility's staff members and senior assistant director faced uncharted territory. Debbie Thoman, MA, RHIA, CHP, says that although the facility is usually Joint Commission accredited, it's not unusual for a 700-bed university teaching hospital to undergo a complaint investigation.
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