Understanding OSHA COVID 19 Emergency Temporary Standard
On June 25, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Hazard Agency published its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) with an expected compliance date of no later than July 21, 2021.
The Joint Commission Resuscitation Requirements For Healthcare
The Joint Commission has shared that proposed Resuscitation Standards will be finalized in July 2021 with an effective date of January 1, 2022. Stay Tuned for more information from C&A in July on the new expectations set by these standards.
Exercise Exemption/Emergency Operations Plan
On June 21, 2021, CMS issued QSO 20-41 outlining and clarifying the Emergency Operations Plan Exercise Requirements in light of the ongoing Public Health Emergency. To learn more about the testing requirements and exemptions that are in place, go to QSO-20-41-All-CMS-Exercise-Exemption-Emergency-Operations-Plan. Need help interpreting this for your organization? Contact us at info@courtemanche-assocs.com.
OSHA Releases New Safety Rule
On June 10, 2021, OSHA released their newest Covid-19 safety rules for healthcare workers. To learn more click here. For assistance in interpreting or designing processes that will comply, contact C&A
Medical History & Physical Requirements for Ambulatory Healthcare
The Joint Commission has revised their Medical History and Physical requirements for Office-Based Surgery and Ambulatory Health Care Accredited Organizations effective July 1, 2021. The new standards now indicate a Medical History and Physical Exam is performed as needed. The organization develops written policy on the criteria for which patients a medical H&P must be …
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Newest Guidance from CMS
On May 7th, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) released their Interpretive Guidelines for the Interoperability and Patient Access Rule. This rule is designed to provide easier access and establish clearer expectations on the sharing of health information to ensure quality and safe transitions in care. These guidelines were issued and implemented on …
New Performance Improvement Requirements for Critical Access Hospitals
In September of 2019, CMS issued the Burden Reduction Final Rule that reset some of the requirements and expectations related to Performance Improvement within Critical Access Hospitals. Several of the required changes have taken effect within The Joint Commission Critical Access Hospital Accreditation Program but several additional changes that reside within the Leadership Chapter took …
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AISLE WIDTH – Use your Tape Measure
The Joint Commission published in their April issue of EC News; a short article of significance that may go unnoticed. The article announces that effective immediately, their EC-LS surveyors will be surveying the aisle widths within your suites that exist within your health care occupancy spaces. The minimum width for these aisles is 36 inches …
Is your Hand Sanitizer Safe?
During the early days of the pandemic, finding a source of hand sanitizer was a challenge, particularly for the community. Many new products came onto the market as a result of the increased demand. Earlier this year, the independent lab, Valisure, took on the work of determining if these hand sanitizers were safe. Of the …
New Requirements on the Horizon: Resuscitative Services
On December 21, 2020, The Joint Commission published a new, updated version of their proposed Resuscitation Standards. Redesign of these standards began in early 2020 with the first opportunity to submit comments being concluded mid-year. While some of the revisions appear to be simple word-smithing opportunities, there are several changes, if adopted as written, that …
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