Courtemanche & Associates | (704)-573-4535 | Email: info@courtemanche-assocs.com
February 2023 Newsletter
In the News This Month
Greetings Everyone,
With the healthcare industry continuing to experience challenges in many areas, our focus this month revolves around leadership and the significance their level of engagement has in creating and maintaining commitment and expectation for safety at all levels, from frontline providers to managers and executives.
Our feature article, “Leadership Accountability for Survey Readiness”, by Chris Pratt, Senior Consultant, speaks to the accountability leadership faces when the organization fails to meet accreditation and/or regulatory requirements, and provides guidance leaders can follow for successful survey outcomes and of the utmost importance, ensuring patient safety.
Our second article, “Culture of Safety, Leadership Responsibility”, authored by Senior Consultant, Denise Smith and Associate Consultant, Anne Kelly provides proven strategies in which leaders can build and sustain a culture of safety where patients receive great care and staff can thrive.
We hope you find these articles informative and helpful in assisting you with your ongoing regulatory readiness. Please feel free to reach out to us at info@courtemanche-assocs.com with any topics you would like to see featured or for any service needs you may have.
- By Christopher Pratt, MS, BSN, HACP-CMS, Senior Consultant & Accredited Provider Program Director
More than ever before, Accrediting Agencies are holding Healthcare Leaders accountable when the facility fails to meet established accreditation and/or
The Author
Christopher Pratt, MS, BSN, RN, HACP-CMS
Chris Pratt is Senior Consultant & Accredited Provider Program Director with Courtemanche and Associates with more than 33 years in clinical and leadership experience working in varying healthcare positions from the bedside to the Boardroom. In this role, he is responsible for assessing healthcare organizations’ readiness for licensing, accreditation, and regulatory compliance. He is trained in the survey process, auditing approach and survey outcome determination utilized by The Joint Commission, DNV, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and other regulatory agencies and accrediting organizations. He assists organizations with post-survey activities, education, patient safety strategies, and quality improvement initiatives and has experience in various health care settings including acute care, behavioral health, and ambulatory care settings.
- By Courtemanche & Associates Team
Is your organization falling short when it comes to culture of safety? Learn proven strategies in which leaders can build
The Author
Denise Smith, RN, BS, MS, CLNC, HACP-CMS
Denise Smith is Head of Consulting & a Senior Consultant with Courtemanche & Associates. In this role she is responsible for assessing healthcare organizational readiness for licensing, certification, accreditation, and regulatory compliance. She has extensive knowledge in the requirements of The Joint Commission, DNV, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services including knowledge in their survey process, auditing approach and survey outcome determination. She also has knowledge and experience in AAAHC and other regulatory and accreditation organizations. She assists organizations with survey preparation, educational needs, post survey activities, patient safety strategies and quality improvement initiatives. Denise has more than 40 years of experience and expertise in Infection Prevention, Sterile Processing, Legal Nurse Consulting, Quality and Resource Management, Clinical Education, in acute inpatient and outpatient care settings.
Patricia Cook, B.S., R.Ph, HACP, GRCP
Pat Cook is a Senior Consultant at Courtemanche & Associates. She has four decades of healthcare administrative and regulatory experience where she served in multiple leadership positions including Drug Distribution Supervisor, Assistant Director of Pharmacy and Director of Pharmaceutical Care. Her experience with regulatory compliance, licensure and accreditation spans over 30 years and involved survey coordination and survey readiness and response across hospital, long term care, ambulatory care, behavioral health, and home care practice settings. Prior to joining the C&A team, Pat’s most recent healthcare experience was serving as System Vice President of Accreditation and Licensure for RWJ Barnabas Health. where Additionally, she also holds the following certifications, Six Sigma Green Belt, Certified Healthcare Accreditation Professional (HACP), and is a Master Trainer in TeamSTEPPS.
C&A is a division of SAYAS Alliance. Through our sister company Medical Resources Network, we also offer a range of legal nurse consulting services, including medical record review and analysis, medical chronologies, peer review, retention of medical experts, and adverse event and call center management. Learn more.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is published in good faith for general information purposes only. This website does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information.
The Joint Commission® is a registered trademark of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Courtemanche & Associates has no affiliation with this entity.