Researchers: Medical errors now third leading cause of death in United States

Nightmare stories of nurses giving potent drugs meant for one patient to another and surgeons removing the wrong body parts have dominated recent headlines about medical care. Lest you assume those cases are the exceptions, a new study by patient safety researchers provides some context.

Their analysis, published in the BMJ on Tuesday, shows that "medical errors" in hospitals and other health care facilities are incredibly common and may now be the third leading cause of death in the United States -- claiming 251,000 lives every year, more than respiratory disease, accidents, stroke and Alzheimer's. The Washington Post, more...

CMS publishes final rule on fire safety requirements for certain health care facilities

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a final rule to update health care facilities’ fire protection guidelines to improve protections for all Medicare beneficiaries in facilities from fire. 

The new guidelines apply to hospitals; long term care (LTC) facilities; critical access hospitals (CAHs); inpatient hospice facilities; programs for all inclusive care for the elderly (PACE); religious non-medical healthcare institutions (RNHCI); ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs); and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF-IID). DOTmed HealthCareBusiness, more...

Working with local authorities on building projects

A real estate development project is a large task for any health care organization. Before the construction work can even begin, organizations must navigate what is often a maze of governmental planning, review and approval requirements.

It’s a process that demands careful preparation and organization, especially for projects with a tight timeline or with rigorous zoning and local regulatory issues. Although real estate development can be an effective strategy to support an organization’s financial health, it is not a core focus for most hospitals, physician groups or other health care providers. Health Facilities Management, more...

Providers Outpace Competition With New Approach to Senior Living Design

Ultimately, senior living communities should feel, to their residents, like home. Achieving that level of comfort benefits current residents, and also—perhaps more importantly—makes the community more attractive to its target demographic of future residents. Luckily, senior living communities can achieve that home-like feel through quality, thoughtful design.

That’s according to Jeanna Korbas, vice president of design at Direct Supply Aptura, whose team designed HarborChase of Shorewood, a senior living community in the Milwaukee suburb of Shorewood, Wisconsin.

In designing the 94-bed assisted living and memory care community, Direct Supply Aptura applied what it has deemed “intelligent design,” an evolution of design that comes from the hospitality industry, Korbas tells Senior Housing News. Senior Housing News, more...

Improving the Patient Experience Through the Health Care Physical Environment

This HPOE guide, a collaboration with the American Society for Healthcare Engineering, explores ways hospital and health system leaders can use the physical environment to improve the patient experience. The guide describes a "people, process, place" model that will help hospital and health system leaders identify people-centered ways to improve the patient experience of care through:

• establishing a culture of caring;
• implementing process improvements, such as processes that support patients and staff; and
• making improvements to the place of care, including the hospital physical environment, technology and furniture.

HPOE.org, more...

#patientsfirst A HEALTHCARE MOVEMENT: SHOW YOU CARE