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September 2026 Newsletter
In the News This Month
Greetings Everyone,
Patient safety risks are not always found in the most obvious places. They may emerge within routine operational processes or develop gradually as small deviations from established practices become accepted over time. This month’s articles examine two often-overlooked areas that warrant continued attention from healthcare leaders.
In “Risk Creep: The Silent Erosion of Patient Safety,” C&A Senior Consultant Christopher Pratt examines how seemingly minor deviations can gradually become normalized within an organization. He highlights the importance of leadership visibility, staff engagement, consistent accountability, and a strong safety culture in recognizing and addressing risks before they contribute to patient harm.
In “Have You Inspected Your Laundry Department Lately?,” C&A Senior Consultant Denise Smith explores the infection prevention and patient safety considerations associated with healthcare linen. She outlines practical steps organizations can take to evaluate internal and contracted laundry operations, strengthen oversight, and help ensure linen is safely processed, transported, stored, and handled.
Thank you for taking the time to read this month’s articles. We hope these insights help support your organization’s patient safety, accreditation, and regulatory compliance priorities. If you have suggestions for future topics or need assistance, please contact us at info@courtemanche-assocs.com. Our team is always ready to help.
- By Christopher Pratt, MS, BSN, HACP-CMS, Senior Consultant & Accredited Provider Program Director
Risk Creep speaks to the importance of recognizing and addressing risks before they contribute to patient harm. Learn More.
The Author
Chris Pratt is a Senior Consultant 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 Denise E. Smith, RN, MS, CLNC, HACP-CMS, Head of Consulting & Senior Consultant
Linens we are using in our healthcare facilities may not be up to the infection control standards to ensure patient
The Author
Denise Smith is Head of Consulting Services and a Senior Consultant at Courtemanche & Associates. Working in collaboration with the C&A Leaders, Denise manages Courtemanche & Associate’s business development initiatives and provides consulting services and support. With her extensive healthcare experience, Denise serves as a knowledgeable resource to new and existing clients, helping to guide them through their accreditation and regulatory needs.
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. Clinically, Denise is a licensed Registered Nurse with an extensive background in Infection Prevention and Control for perioperative settings, sterile processing, and quality management. Additionally, she is a Certified Legal Nurse and has aided organizations for EMTALA, Medical-Surgical, and Health Care Administration areas of concern.
August Spotlight Observations
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.
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