FDA is currently evaluating data which suggests that potentially inaccurate MR thermometry information can be displayed during treatment. Posted 04/25/2018

This report discusses barriers to integrating behavioral health in the ED; presents the results of a literature scan of existing models to address behavioral health needs in the ED and in communities; and identifies five drivers (emerging from six key themes from existing approaches) that form the building blocks of a theory of change for making improvements in this area.​

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and the DAISY Foundation have announced the recipients of the 2018 IHI/NPSF DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nurses. Erin Harlow-Parker, MS, APRN, PMSCNS-BC, of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, has been chosen to receive the individual award. The team award will go to the Surgical Care Unit at Children’s National Health System in Washington, DC. The awards will be conferred during the IHI/NPSF Patient Safety Congress, which takes place May 23-25, 2018, in Boston, Massachusetts.

April 19, 2018 | Eight health systems are working with IHI to elevate health equity to a strategic priority, confront institutional racism, and improve the livelihood and health of their patients, employees, and surrounding communities in eastern North Carolina.

NGB Corp. of West Jordan, Utah is voluntarily recalling NxtGen Botanicals Maeng Da Kratom labeled bottles of encapsulated product because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can ressult in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.

Viable Solutions of Nampa, ID has initiated a recall of certain Kratom-containing powder products, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

the recommended instructions and device design for the ERBEFLO port connector do not adequately mitigate the risks of cross-contamination for endoscopy patients. This is because the connector, tubing, and/or water bottle can become contaminated with blood, stool, or other fluids from previous patients that travel back through the endoscope channels into the connector and tubing. Endoscope connectors that are labeled for use with multiple patients over the course of 24 hours without reprocessing are known as 24-hour multi-patient use endoscope connectors. To date, the FDA has not received acceptable testing to demonstrate the safe use of these products, and recommends against their useTo mitigate the risk of cross-contamination and possible infection between patients, the FDA recommends the use of connectors with features that prevent patient fluids from flowing backwards into the endoscope (backflow prevention features). These connectors may be either single-use connectors that are discarded after each patient, or reusable connectors that are reprocessed according to their instructions for use prior to each patient.

Consumers with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol or heart disease often take nitrates; concomitant use of nitrates and PDE5 inhibitors can lead to fatal cardiovascular collapse. Posted 04/18/2018

Consumers with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol or heart disease often take nitrates; concomitant use of nitrates and PDE-5 inhibitors can lead to fatal cardiovascular collapse. Posted 04/18/2018

If the battery runs out, the ICD or CRT-D will be unable to deliver life-saving pacing or shocks, which could lead to patient death. Posted 04/17/2018

Platelets with pH lower than 6.2 and a lack of “swirl” may not be viable. Transfusion of these platelets may lead to delayed correction of coagulopathy or low quality prophylactic platelet transfusion.

FDA is alerting health care professionals to a voluntary recall of all non-expired products marketed as sterile made by Coastal Meds due to visible particles in some of the drug vials for injection.

Administration of non-sterile injection products that are intended to be sterile may result in a site-specific or systemic infection.

System 83 Plus AERs may now be used to reprocess only the Olympus TJF-Q180V duodenoscope and the Pentax ED-3490TK duodenoscope.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

With professional burnout rates in health care at an all-time high, IHI suggests shifting the focus from “burnout” to “joy in work.” This article describes the role of leaders and four proven steps to create joy in work.

Sales restricted to only doctors and healthcare facilities who use the FDA-approved “Patient-Doctor Discussion Checklist – Acceptance of Risk and Informed Decision Acknowledgement”.

April 5, 2018 | The safety huddle​ has become an important way for hospitals to surface safety concerns affecting patients and the workforce. But what does it mean for patient safety when it becomes just another meeting?

Too often, care integration — the planned, thoughtful design of the care process for the benefit and protection of the patient — is lacking. This Lucian Leape Institute report addresses the issue of care integration with the aim of outlining the major barriers to effective integration and providing a framework for further consideration and action among stakeholders.

This Lucian Leape Institute report details how workplace safety is inextricably linked to patient safety. It highlights vulnerabilities common in health care organizations, discusses the costs of inaction, outlines what a healthy and safe workplace would look like, and offers seven recommendations for actions that organizations need to pursue to effect real change.