September/October 2020 Issue of Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection Control
ON THE COVER
Level-up the patient experience with cultural sensitivity and empathy: 4 tactics from Sinai Health's Dr. Airica Steed
The patient experience is an important aspect of healthcare delivery and it takes a complete culture shift for organizations to truly put the patient first in all processes and touchpoints. But the shift is necessary to improve quality and perception of care.
7 most common sentinel events this year
Care management incidents were the most common type of sentinel event reported in the first half of 2020, according to data The Joint Commission released Aug. 12.
Advocate Aurora CNO Adrienne Schultz on her healthcare inspirations, the challenges of being a female leader and striking a work-life balance
Adrienne Schultz, MSN, RN, is relatively new to her position as vice president and CNO of Cudahy, Wis.-based Advocate Aurora St. Luke's South Shore, a role which she began in July. However, she brought with her more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience.
NewYork-Presbyterian CXO Rick Evans: How will we rebuild trust with patients now and after COVID-19?
In New York City, the summer has brought a strange and unfamiliar mix of both relief and anxiety.
'I'm fighting a war against COVID-19 and a war against stupidity,' says CMO of Houston hospital
After two hours of sleep a night for four months and seeing a member of his team contract the virus, Joseph Varon, MD, is growing exasperated.
6 potential long-term side effects of COVID-19
Researchers "don't yet fully appreciate" what happens after a patient recovers from a serious case of COVID-19, said Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as reported by CNN.
Physician viewpoint: COVID-19 visitor restrictions may hurt more than they help
Visitor restrictions intended to limit the spread of COVID-19 in hospitals could "inadvertently harm patients more than the virus itself," two physician leaders wrote in an op-ed for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
How the pandemic is affecting HAI rates
Early data from two hospitals in New York City and St. Louis suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic will cause an uptick in some healthcare-associated infections, researchers wrote in a commentary published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Polio-like condition in kids likely to spike this fall, CDC warns
Based on previous trends, cases of acute flaccid myelitis, a polio-like condition in children, may spike in the U.S. between August and November, a new CDC report shows.
HCA hospital staff link patient death to understaffing
A patient at North Suburban Medical Center died in May after staff members failed to change the battery on the individual's pulse oximeter in a timely manner, according to a state inspection report cited by The Denver Post.
4 common pitfalls to avoid after a medical error
How healthcare organizations respond to medical errors has greatly evolved in the last few decades. Transparency and accountability have emerged as key tenets of this process, aligned with hospitals' efforts to build a culture of safety and continual clinical improvement.
The top-rated hospitals for patient experience, state-by-state
Using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores from CMS, Becker's has compiled a list of the best hospitals for patient experience in each state. Hospitals either received five or four patient summary star ratings.
AMA: 15 steps to care for healthcare workers before, during and after crisis
While a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic or a natural disaster will inevitably cause stressors for physicians and other health professionals, there are steps organizations can take to promote workforce well-being before, during and after such events, according to the American Medical Association.
How US News' top 10 hospitals are addressing health disparities
The COVID-19 pandemic and deaths of Black Americans such as George Floyd have spurred many health systems to take increased focus on addressing systemic racism and health disparities. As a result, organizations are implementing various initiatives, from outreach programs to education to recruiting a chief diversity officer.
CRNA salary by state
The average salary for certified registered nurse anesthetists in the U.S. is $181,040, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics survey May 2019, the most recent data available.
INFECTION CONTROL
Don't write off neck gaiters yet, researchers say
Neck gaiters are still a viable option to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and are likely better than wearing no mask at all, researchers and health experts told The New York Times.
CDC shares flu shot recommendations for 2020-21 season
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices shared updated flu vaccine recommendations for the 2020-21 season in its most recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published Aug. 21.
How the pandemic is affecting HAI rates: 5 things to know
Early data from two hospitals in New York City and St. Louis suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic will cause an uptick in some healthcare-associated infections, researchers wrote in a commentary published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
23 staff, 13 patients positive for COVID-19 after Massachusetts hospital employee visits virus hot spot
Thirteen patients and 23 employees at a Massachusetts hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 after an employee recently traveled to an out-of-state virus hot spot area, The Boston Herald reports.
Vaccines 'remarkably safe,' study finds
Two decades' worth of data shows vaccines are "remarkably safe," a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found.
PATIENT SAFETY
7 most common sentinel events this year
Care management incidents were the most common type of sentinel event reported in the first half of 2020, according to data The Joint Commission released Aug. 12.
Ohio board suspends licenses of 2 nurses linked to Mount Carmel patient deaths
The Ohio Board of Nursing suspended the licenses of two nurses in connection to 2018 patient deaths at Columbus, Ohio-based Mount Carmel Health System, reports CBS affiliate WBNS.
National action plan aims to reenergize hospitals' patient safety efforts
An expert committee convened by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement created a national action plan to help health systems refocus and reenergize patient safety efforts.
OB-GYN practice countersues Prisma Health, alleges 'deteriorating' care quality and 'abysmal' conditions
Nine obstetricians and gynecologists say they were forced to leave Columbia, S.C.-based Prisma Health due to "deteriorating" care quality and persistent safety issues at the system's Baptist Hospital, according to an Aug. 14 legal filing cited by The State.
Michigan psychiatric hospital did not remove staff after alleged abuse or neglect, audit finds
An audit by the state found that Kalamazoo (Mich.) Psychiatric Hospital failed to remove accused employees from patient contact after investigation of abuse or neglect allegations.
PATIENT & CAREGIVER EXPERIENCE
COVID-19 'long haulers' take symptom research into own hands
A group of COVID-19 patients with prolonged symptoms created their own research group to explore why a subfaction of patients still feel sick long after contracting the virus, reports MIT Technology Review.
1 in 3 patients may have neurological issues after COVID-19, experts say
At least one-third of COVID-19 patients may experience lingering neurological issues after recovering from the infection, health experts told STAT.
Lehigh Valley Hospital apologizes after patients report meal delays
Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pa., is apologizing after patients said their meals were regularly delayed or not delivered, according to The Morning Call.
Physician viewpoint: COVID-19 visitor restrictions may hurt more than they help
Visitor restrictions intended to limit the spread of COVID-19 in hospitals could "inadvertently harm patients more than the virus itself," two physician leaders wrote in an op-ed for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
CMS probe finds New Mexico hospital violated patient rights with 'informal' COVID-19 testing policy
A CMS investigation found Lovelace Women's Hospital in Albuquerque profiled pregnant Native American women for COVID-19 testing and separated them from their newborns without adequate consent until test results came back, according to New Mexico In Depth and ProPublica.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT & MEASUREMENT
CMS shares proposed star ratings changes: 4 takeaways
CMS has outlined proposed changes to the Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating methodology, which would take place next year.
Study links higher ICU bed occupancy to more COVID-19 deaths
The number of hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients in a state is strongly linked to mortality, a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found.
No link between blood type and COVID-19 severity, Harvard researchers say
A patient's blood type does not influence whether he or she will have a more severe case of COVID-19, a study published in Annals of Hematology found.
5 ways hospitals can boost clinician engagement in quality improvement
Dedicated time, mentorship and participation in a professional quality improvement network are the most significant factors to nurture clinicians' self-efficacy and effectiveness in QI, according to a study published in International Journal for Quality in Health Care.
Healthgrades recognizes 162 hospitals for maternal care
Healthgrades has identified 162 hospitals as the recipients of its 2020 Women's Care Awards, the organization said Aug. 11
NURSING SPOTLIGHT
Viewpoint: White House COVID-19 task force needs a nurse
The White House coronavirus task force should include a nurse to help make the best public health decisions, according to an op-ed penned by Anna Dermenchyan, RN, PhD, and Kristen Choi, RN, PhD.
Virginia nurse creates free pantry for colleagues
A Virginia hospital nurse created a free pantry to help colleagues struggling to buy food or other household items during the pandemic, reports CNN.
Sinai Health, DePaul University to target health disparities in Chicago
Sinai Health System and DePaul University, both based in Chicago, will create a research institute to address health and social inequities in the city, the institutions announced Aug. 31.
CRNA salary by state — Wyoming is No. 1 at $243,310
The average salary for certified registered nurse anesthetists in the U.S. is $181,040, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics survey May 2019, the most recent data available.
'It's an insult': Nurses from South, West say many there doubt COVID-19 threat
Some nurses who volunteered to treat COVID-19 patients in New York City are returning to friends and family in the South and West who doubt the virus is real or underestimate the pandemic's severity, reports The New York Times.