Do you ever wonder what a mock survey consultant does prior to visiting your organization? Have you been curious about the extent of preparation that occurs, how we are able to identify areas for improvement (or regulatory gaps) in a short period of time, and how it all comes together in a final report to enable effective resolution?
The definition of competent is having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully. Being competent on paper and being able to perform a necessary skill or job responsibility are two different things. Before you can be competent you must be educated, trained and a competency assessment performed. You need to have the …
You have finished the procedure, now what’s next? Prior to sending instruments to Sterile Processing, it is important to remember to remove as much blood and bioburden from the instruments and keep them moist during transport. With Personal Protective Equipment on, rinse or wipe the instruments with water. Never use saline as it will damage …
Enzymatic Spraying of Instruments at Point of Use Read More »
In 2008, The Joint Commission (TJC) implemented a new standard, MS.08.01.03, requiring detailed evaluation of practitioners’ professional performance as part of the process of granting and maintaining practice privileges in a healthcare organization. Although the standard took effect in 2008, many organizations continue to struggle to establish meaningful indicators and ensure these processes are consistently …
Since COVID-19, the shortage of personal protective equipment has become an issue for many organizations throughout the country. Disposable gloves are being disinfected between tasks using alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It might sound like an acceptable practice under the circumstances, but did you ever think about what the alcohol does to the gloves that you are …
During mock surveys I always ask staff what the contact or wet time is for a particular disinfecting wipe. Unless they have changed products recently or are frequently getting different brands due to availability (a result of COVID-19) staff are able to verbalize the correct contact or wet time. The question is, do they know …
How often do we go to the linen closet and say to ourselves, “is this linen safe to put on my patient’s bed?” As a nurse for over 40 years, I do not think that I have ever asked myself that question. I was happy that the linen was there and that I could use …
A frequently asked question on mock surveys is, “How do I know what type of cleaning and disinfection process is needed for my ultrasound transducers (probes)?” The use of diagnostic ultrasound imaging continues to expand beyond the conventional settings of radiology, cardiology, and obstetrics. Today, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is widely utilized at the bedside throughout …
Cleaning and Preparing Ultrasound Transducers Between Patients Read More »
In preparing for your Joint Commission survey, it is always helpful to review the Survey Activity Guides published by the Joint Commission annually. These guides will not only assist you in preparing for survey but will also provide you with an abstract of each survey activity that includes logistical needs, session objectives, an overview of …
Recently there has been a lot of news about cybercrime related to hospital IT systems. The American Hospital Association published a Special Bulletin recently updating hospitals of these attacks and the need to make sure that their IT systems are secure. This information comes from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the FBI and the …
