Key Points
- Traveling nurses will find 3 new requirements address preventing healthcare-associated infections.
- Traveling med/surg nurses are affected by new goals for surgical procedure verification.
The Joint Commission recently announced its 2009 National Patient Safety Goals, affecting the more than 15,000 acute care
and critical access hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, office-based surgery practices, home care organizations, long-term
care facilities, and programs it accredits or certifies.
As patients continue to acquire preventable infections within hospitals—and Medicare is slated to discontinue reimbursement
for their treatment in October 2008—the goals include three new requirements that relate to preventing healthcare-associated
infections from multiple drug-resistant organisms, central line-associated bloodstream infections, and surgical site infections.
Surgical procedure verification, marking procedure sites, and conducting a "time out" immediately prior to starting procedures
are just some of the policies addressed.
"The 2009 National Patient Safety Goals represent ongoing opportunities for improvement that can immediately benefit patients,"
says Mark R. Chassin, MD, MPP, MPH, president of The Joint Commission. "By taking action to consistently meet the goals, healthcare
organizations can substantially improve patient safety in America." New infection-related requirements have a phase-in period
with specific milestones. Full compliance is expected by January 2010 and is required for continued accreditation or certification
( http://www.jointcommission.org/).
Legislative Corner
On July 15, Congress voted to override President Bush's veto of H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. Among other actions, the bill prevents the 10.6% physician payment cut slated to take effect July 1, extends therapy cap
exceptions through 2009, allows direct billing for SLPs in private practice, and protects access to community pharmacies.
Mark Your Calendar
September 14–20 is Nephrology Nurses Week. Celebrating specialists who care for patients with kidney disease, its theme is "We Carry the Torch." For ideas and resources
to mark the event, visit http://www.annanurse.org/NNW/.
September 15 is National Neonatal Nurses Day. For networking opportunities, ideas on how to increase role awareness, and resources for attracting new nurses to the specialty,
go to
http://www.nann.org/meetings/nnnd.html.
Did You Know...
The top 5 boating destinations for fishing in the U.S. are:
1. Dale Hollow Lake, Celina, TN
2. Davidson River, Charlotte, NC
3. Florida Keys, Key Largo, FL
4. Lake Erie, Cleveland, OH
5. Long Island Sound, Long Island, NY
Source: http://DiscoverBoating.com/. (2008, May 28). Ready to hit the water? Visit America's top boating hot spots. Retrieved June 24, 2008, from http://www.discoverboating.com/info/pressrelease.aspx?id=17353
