Effectiveness of structured nursing leadership development program for succession planning
Editor's Note A structured nursing leadership development program that included a Web-based modular approach combined with engaged nursing executive mentorship significantly increased the competence of developing nurse leaders, in this study. The program involved nurses in a large academic health system in the southeastern US in the following roles: Clinical…
Joint Commission changes requirements for independent pathologists
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on January 3 announced that it is no longer requiring hospitals, critical access hospitals, or ambulatory care organizations to credential and privilege pathologists who provide diagnostic services through independent reference (contract) laboratories. The Joint Commission says accredited organizations can safely presume that pathologists who work…
FDA: AuroMedics recalls Ampicillin and Sulbactam for Injection
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 4 announced the recall by AuroMedics Pharma LLC (Windsor, New Jersey) of one lot of Ampicillin and Sulbactam for Injection USP 1.5 g in a single-dose vial. The recall was issued because the lot (Lot AFOI 17001-A, Expiry date December…
New York first state to pass ‘BSN in 10’ law
Editor's Note New York is the first state to require new nurses to obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing within 10 years of initial licensure, the January 2 HealthLeaders Media reports. The legislation takes effect immediately; however, the degree requirement does not start for 30 months. The new…
CMS launches new data submission system for Quality Payment Program
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on January 2 that physicians and other eligible clinicians participating in the Quality Payment Program can begin submitting their 2017 performance data using a new system on the Quality Payment Program website (qpp.cms.gov). The new system is an improvement…
FDA: Class I recall of Agilis Steerable Reprocessed Introducer Sheath
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 2 classified the recall by Sterilmed (Plymouth, Minnesota) of its Agilis Steerable Reprocessed Introducer Sheath as Class I, the most serious. The sheath's hemostatic valve, which prevents blood from flowing back through the valve, may fail because of an improper…
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in surgeons, interventionalists
Editor's Note The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in surgeons and interventionalists is high, this meta-analysis finds. Of 5,828 physicians, there was: degenerative cervical spine disease in 17% rotator cuff pathology in 18% degenerative lumbar spine disease in 19% carpal tunnel syndrome in 9%. From 1997 to 2015, the prevalence…
Joint Commission new and revised standards effective January 2018
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on December 20, 2017, posted new and revised standards that go into effect in January 2018. Included are: Life Safety Code revisions that address topics such as testing of emergency lighting systems and inspection and testing of piped medical gas and vacuum systems. Medication Management…
CMS updates Hospital Compare site
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced December 21 that it updated data on its Hospital Compare website and will update the Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating using a new methodology that will give more hospitals one or five stars. CMS had postponed the release of…
Joint Commission cites 'continuous improvement' as 2018 survey goal
When Medicare and Medicaid legislation was passed and signed into law in 1965, the US Congress formed the precursor federal agency to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to write the rules and regulations spelling out the “Conditions of Participation” (CoPs) required to obtain federal funding under these…