Quality

The focus of quality improvement in healthcare is to bolster performance and processes related to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Leaders in this space also ensure the proper selection of imaging exams and procedures, and monitor the safety of services, among other duties. Reimbursement programs such as the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) utilize financial incentives to improve quality. This also includes setting and maintaining care quality initiatives, such as the requirements set by the Joint Commission.

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FDA finalizes ban on powdered gloves

Beginning January 19, 2017, powdered medical gloves will be banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which cites “an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury.”

Pharmacies promise changes after report on missing risky drug combinations

A Chicago Tribune investigation tested how often pharmacists would recognize and warn patients about potentially dangerous interactions between two of their prescriptions.

Joint Commission explains safety goals on UTIs caused by catheters

The Joint Commission has released a report offering the rationale behind its updated safety goals on catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) for hospitals.

$28 billion saved by patient safety efforts

Hospital-acquired infections and the deaths caused by them plunged between 2010 and 2015, according to a new report released by HHS.

OSHA requests comments, schedules meeting on standard to prevent workplace violence in healthcare, social assistance

WASHINGTON – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration today issued a Request for Information on whether to propose a standard to prevent workplace violence in healthcare and social assistance settings. The agency has also scheduled a public meeting on Jan. 10, 2017, in Washington, D.C., to discuss strategies for reducing incidents of violence in these workplaces.

CMS announces two new models for testing shared decision-making

CMS is asking for applications to test two different approaches to shared decision-making: one for accountable care organizations (ACOs) and another for care outside of office visits.  

21 states have no hospitals on Leapfrog Group’s 2016 award lists

The Leapfrog Group has named the recipients of its 2016 Top Hospital awards for children’s, rural, teaching and general hospitals.  

The best, worst teaching hospitals on central line infections

Consumer Reports’ analysis on hospital-acquired infections found some “sobering" results when it came to teaching hospitals, with 31 making its list of low-performing facilities.

Around the web

Stryker, a global medtech company based out of Michigan, has kicked off 2025 with a bit of excitement. The company says Inari’s peripheral vascular portfolio is highly complementary to its own neurovascular portfolio.

RBMA President Peter Moffatt discusses declining reimbursement rates, recruiting challenges and the role of artificial intelligence in transforming the industry.

Mark Isenberg, executive vice president of Zotec Partners, discusses key developments that will reshape the specialty this year.