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ASHRM NEWS

The national American Society of Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM)   provides advocacy and leadership in topics of health care related risk. This includes educational webcasts, materials, and publications, support for students of risk management, a Certification program (for risk management in the healthcare setting.).  ASHRM initiatives focus on developing and implementing safe and effective patient care practices, preserving financial resources and maintaining safe working environments.

ASHRM educational deadlines are coming quickly upon us:  ASHRM’s Patient Safety Curriculum next sessions are July 26-27 and 28-29 in Chicago.

ASHRM’s web conference  Facing Security Risks Across the Continuum of Care featuring Faye Rozovsky and Linda Glasson

  • Described critical security risks exposures in a variety of healthcare settings.
  • Examined potential risk management exposures found in the absence of effective security systems and processes.
  • Discussed a practical ERM approach to address security in various healthcare settings.
  • Recording will apparently be available for later purchase.

Reference materials and resources from ASHRM:

Risk Week Resources
The following materials can help you celebrate Healthcare Risk Management Week at your institution or chapter:

To join ASHRM: Please visit the ASHRM membership page or call (312) 422-3980 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT weekdays.

CURRENT NEWS

Can we figure that Obama thinks evidence based medicine and patient safety should   continue to be an important focus for CMS.? The AHA  on July 7, 2010 reported “President Obama today appointed Donald Berwick, M.D., as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Berwick is president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. "Given the importance of health reform to millions of Americans, tapping a respected leader for CMS is of the utmost importance," said AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock. "President Obama has found such a leader in Don Berwick. Don has dedicated his career to engaging hospitals, doctors, nurses and other health care providers to improve patient care. A physician and innovator in health care quality, his knowledge of the health care system makes him the right choice. We look forward to working with Don in the months ahead to improve health care in America." Berwick served as an independent member of the AHA Board of Trustees from 1996 to 1999.” “

WSHA Makes Presentations of general interest to RMs available. These are from the Washington State Hospital Association's 33rd Annual Rural Conference -- topics include HIT, L&I inspections, and disaster planning.

FDA’s Recently Issued Documents seem to show it’s determined to improve patient safety while using medical devices:
The FDA is clearly intent on improving its processes for evaluating the safety of medical devices as actually used in the clinical setting.  For example, it’s published a new Health Hazard Evaluation  or Health Risk Assessment for manufacturers.  (Center for Devices and Radiological Health ). Email your comments here. It’s also sponsoring an initiative to evaluate IV safety.  The FDA also recently hosted a significant conference looking at the safety of medical devices used in the home care setting called the  Medical Device Home Use Initiative. The presentations from  its May, 2010 Public Workshop are available. (Reference: MedSun: Newsletter #50, July 2010). The FDA is considering the premarket review process, postmarket surveillance, risks in the home environment, user characteristics, training issues and wireless technologies.  more>

MedSun Newsletters
The FDA also recently issued formal emergency use authorizations for certain unapproved diagnostic tools—a direct outcome of the H1N1 resurgence. Technically of  interest to manufacturers and purchasers of these items for use in the clinical setting, the document is nonetheless interesting reading for anyone who wants to know more about the authority, criteria and process for declaring and responding to a national health emergency.  Review the preamble in the Federal Register: June 21, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 118)][Page 35045-35070]. Federal Register Online go to online GPO Access

Operating Room Fire Prevention Video Available
Excerpted From the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory
The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation offers a free video on OR Fire Prevention, available on its website. The video promotes OR fire-prevention best practices including controlling oxygen concentration levels at or near the surgical site. It projects OR fire statistics based in part on analysis of events reported to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority. The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory also has several articles discussing OR fire prevention, including “Airway Fires during Surgery”, and an educational poster highlighting ways to minimize and also to fight airway fires.

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