Improving Public Health

Nobel Prize awarded for “inner GPS”

The 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to three scientists for their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain.

Oct 6, 2014 ·

Joint Commission releases updated sentinel events data

Nearly 59 percent of sentinel events since 2004 have resulted in patient deaths, according to recently updated sentinel event statistics from the Joint Commission. The updated statistics include 2014 summary data for Jan. 1 through June 30.

Sep 3, 2014 ·

Risks of tubing misconnections singled out in new alert

The Joint Commission has issued a new Sentinel Event Alert, “Managing risk during transition to new ISO tubing connector standards,” which addresses the risks of accidental medical tubing misconnections that can cause severe patient injury or death.

Aug 25, 2014 ·

Video: How simple questions can save physicians time and money

Physicians can save millions of dollars—and eliminate unnecessary testing—by asking patients just a few quick questions, according to one physician...

Aug 21, 2014 ·

Video: City is improving public health by sparking conversations

In his role as commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, Bechara Choucair, MD, leverages his experience as an internal medicine physician to empower patients to make the right choices.

Aug 20, 2014 ·

Better ED efficiency a win-win in changing health care environment

Roughly one-half of all hospital admissions come from emergency department (ED) visits, according to a recent study by the RAND Corporation.

Aug 13, 2014 ·

Resource offers strategies to prevent hospital infections

An updated version of the popular compendium of recommendations for preventing common health care-associated infections (HAI) in acute care hospitals has been published in the Infection Control and Healthcare Epidemiology.

May 12, 2014 ·

Joint Commission releases 2013 sentinel events data

Updated statistics from the Joint Commission show 887 sentinel events were reported in 2013. The most frequently reported sentinel event in 2013 was delay in treatment, followed by wrong patient, wrong site or wrong procedure.

Mar 31, 2014 ·

Joint Commission proposes standards for diagnostic imaging

The Joint Commission has released for field review proposed standards that would dictate minimum privileging qualifications for radiologists who read CT exams in hospitals, critical access hospitals and ambulatory settings.