Healthcare Risk Management – August 1, 2010
August 1, 2010
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"Boston Med" show raises questions about media access in hospitals
Health care providers are becoming more open to the media and willing to comply with requests for access that in years past would never have been allowed, but a television series is raising questions about how much media access is too much. -
Johns Hopkins says TV show worked well
Many people, including a lot of risk managers, thought The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore was taking a huge risk when it allowed ABC television crews extensive access to produce the groundbreaking series "Hopkins 24/7" in 2000. But the experience was overwhelmingly positive, says Gary M. Stephenson, MS, senior associate director for media relations and public affairs with Johns Hopkins Medicine. -
Violence on the rise, more attention needed
Health care facilities are being confronted with steadily increasing rates of crime, including assault, rape and murder, according to a new report from The Joint Commission (TJC) in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Providers must devote more attention to protecting patients, visitors, and staff from violence, the report says. -
Seven steps to reducing violence in hospitals
Violence can be reduced in hospitals only by addressing the issue head on, says Tony Kubica, a founding partner of Kubica Laforest Consulting in Warwick, RI, and formerly a hospital executive in charge of security. -
Hospital develops early warning system
A scoring system designed to provide an early warning of patients who may need prompt care has helped a hospital decrease its code blue calls outside the intensive care unit (ICU) by 50% and increase rapid response team (RRT) calls by 110%. -
Nurses become quality, safety investigators
Quality and safety can be improved by providing special training to nurses and then making them the bedside champion for best practices, says Liz Carlton, RN, MSN, CCRN, director of quality, safety, and regulatory compliance at the University of Kansas Hospital (KUMED) in Kansas City, KS. -
Abuse of Woman at Nursing Home not Investigated; $7.75 Million Jury Verdict
An elderly woman was allegedly abused by employees at a nursing home. The woman's family repeatedly complained to management, who failed to investigate the issue. After more than a year of unaddressed complaints, the family installed a hidden camera in the room. Footage from the camera reveals multiple instances of staff abuse. A jury verdict was awarded in favor of the plaintiff in the amount of $7.75 million. -
Failure to Confine Pregnant Woman: $24.1M Verdict
A pregnant woman exhibiting bleeding caused by placenta previa was hospitalized. Twelve days later, while walking to the bathroom, the woman experienced a massive hemorrhage, resulting in the premature birth of her twins. The hospital staff allegedly failed to adequately monitor the mother and confine her to bed, a necessity for women suffering from placenta previa. The resulting injuries to one of the infants have required multiple surgeries and rehabilitative sessions throughout her life, and she suffers from a continual debilitating condition.