Organizations focus on hospital efforts to mitigate violence, increase safety

AHA report examines cost of violence on health care

Community violence cost U.S. hospitals and health systems an estimated $2.7 billion in 2016, according to a new report from the American Hospital Association. The authors of “Cost of community violence to hospitals and health systems” found that hospitals and health systems spent $1.1 billion on security and training to prevent violence in hospitals; $852 million in unreimbursed care for victims of violence; $429 million on medical care, staffing, indemnity and other costs related to violence against hospital employees; and $280 million on preparedness and prevention of community violence.

CMS issues memo for fire- and smoke-door testing

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a memo related to fire- and smoke-door annual testing requirements, stating that health care occupancies must inspect and test fire-door assemblies annually in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association’s 2010 NFPA 80. Non-rated doors and assemblies are not subject to NFPA 80 or NFPA 105 annual inspection and testing requirements, the memo adds, but should be inspected routinely as part of the facility maintenance program. Full compliance with 2010 NFPA 80 annual fire-door assembly inspection and testing is required by Jan. 1, CMS states.

FDA issues recall on intra-aortic balloon pumps 

Datascope Corp./Maquet is recalling its CS100i, CS100, and CS300 intra-aortic balloon pumps manufactured before June 30, 2013, due to the risk of a valve failure that prevents the balloon from inflating and deflating properly. The cardiac-assist devices are used to aid patients who undergo cardiac and non-cardiac surgery, and to treat patients with acute coronary syndrome or complications from heart failure. 

FCC task force seeks input on health care broadband

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Connect2Health Task Force is hosting virtual listening sessions to gain stakeholder input on possible strategies to accelerate the adoption and accessibility of broadband-enabled health care solutions and advanced technologies. The FCC states that it is looking for comments on recommendations for critical regulatory, policy, technical and infrastructure issues. 

Joint Commission official warns of ligature deficiencies

The Joint Commission announced at the American Society for Healthcare Engineering’s (ASHE’s) Annual Conference & Technical Exhibition last month that ligature and self-harm risks identified during survey must be corrected within 60 days from the last day of survey, according to a report in the Inside ASHE e-newsletter. George Mills, FASHE, CEM, CHFM, CHSP, the Joint Commission’s director of engineering, said providers are expected to take the steps needed to achieve compliance within the time frame based on federal regulations. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can grant time extensions, but Mills said CMS believes ligature-related deficiencies are never appropriate for these extensions.