The University Medical Center of El Paso (Texas) is seeking approval of its sterilization unit by the end of next week, sooner than the 23-day deadline it was given after the after the Joint Commission gave the hospital a preliminary denial of accreditation, according to an El Paso Times report.
Here are four things to know about the denial of accreditation.
1. The notice of a preliminary denial of accreditation was issued to UMC July 9 after the Joint Commission found problems with some processes, certifications and documentation in the sterile processing department at UMC.
2. UMC was given 23 days to fix the issue. However, UMC seeks to shorten that time period and ask for the approval of the Joint Commission by July 24, according to the report.
3. UMC President and CEO Jim Valenti said in the report that hospital staff and hired specialists are making efforts to meet standards and make improvements to its sterilization unit following the Joint Commission's findings. According to the report, medical officials said every piece of surgical equipment has been re-sterilized.
4. UMC canceled elective and non-emergency surgeries after the Joint Commission gave the hospital a preliminary denial of accreditation. But elective surgeries and nonemergency surgical procedures will resume at UMC after the problems are fixed.
More articles on infection control and clinical quality:
4 common nursing hazards demanding hospitals' attention
CMS aims to improve care for nursing home residents: 8 of the proposed changes
5 strategies to reduce distraction in the OR