Enhanced Respiratory Care Accreditation – 11 Applications, 6 States, 2 Countries

Enhanced Respiratory Care Accreditation – 11 Applications, 6 States, 2 Countries

From the desk of the Executive Director of the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety – this article discusses the receipt of 11 applications for Enhanced Respiratory Care across 6 US states and 2 different countries, as well as substantial international interest in ERC courses from Ghana, Kuwait, and Pakistan.

By Michael Wong, JD (Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

Enhanced Respiratory Care Pre-Launch Jitters

When we were planning for the launch of the Enhanced Respiratory Care Accreditation program, the pessimist in me said we would not get any applications at all.

However, even before we launched the program on April 20, 2023,  Carl Hinkson, MS, RRT-NPS, ACCS, FAARC (President, American Association for Respiratory Care) had sent us this letter announcing support and endorsement of our Enhanced Respiratory Care program.

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Thank You to All of the Volunteers at the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety!

Thank You to All of the Volunteers at the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety!

By Michael Wong, JD (Founder & Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

Recently an Associated Press article’s headline caught my attention – “Nonprofits Scramble for Help Amid Dearth of Volunteers”. According to that article, getting volunteer help at nonprofits has become much more difficult since the COVID pandemic:

As pandemic-related government aid programs end and inflation rises, nonprofits of all kinds are looking everywhere and trying everything to get volunteers. According to a recent U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps survey, formal volunteer participation was 23.2 percent, dropping 7 percentage points from 2019 to 2021 — the largest decrease the survey has recorded since a version of it started in 2002.

It’s reached the point where the lack of volunteers strains the safety net that nonprofits provide to many of society’s most vulnerable.

“This is a wake-up call for the social sector, which depends on volunteers, especially as needs for services remain high,” said Michael D. Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps, which has opened its yearly grant program to award $8 million to help nonprofits recruit and retain volunteers.

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The Importance of Infection Control in the Healthcare Setting: Tips for Medical Professionals

The Importance of Infection Control in the Healthcare Setting: Tips for Medical Professionals

Editor’s note: This article is an opinion article written by Kelly Koeppel who is an author, editor, and digital marketing specialist. She is also an editor of Aging.com that submitted this article.

By Kelly Koeppel 

Every year, millions of people are affected by hospital-acquired infections. These infections can have serious, sometimes fatal consequences for patients in the healthcare setting. Infection control plays an essential role in reducing the spread of these infections and keeping patients safe. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of infection control in the healthcare setting and discuss tips for medical professionals to prevent the spread of infection. From standard precautions and protective equipment to best practices for handwashing and screening patients, we’ll cover all you need to know about infection control in healthcare facilities. So let’s get started – it could be a matter of life or death!

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New Healthcare Accreditation Sets National Standard for Respiratory Care of Patients

The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety (PPAHS) is pleased to announce the availability of accreditation for healthcare facilities that meet the Enhanced Respiratory Care Standards of Care.

The Enhanced Respiratory Care Standards of Care are supported and endorsed by the American Association for Respiratory Care. Carl Hinkson, MS, RRT-NPS, ACCS, FAARC (President, American Association for Respiratory Care) writes:

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You Are Invited to the 4th World Sepsis Congress

By Michael Wong, JD (Founder & Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

Invitation to World Sepsis Congress

On behalf of the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety, I invite you to participate in the upcoming 4th World Sepsis Congress, hosted by the Global Sepsis Alliance. This free online congress will take place on April 25 and 26, 2023, and will feature over 85 experts speaking on all aspects of sepsis, including the latest research, treatment options, and best practices for sepsis prevention and management.

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Improving Patient Safety Means Fixing the System, Creating a Just Culture, and Not Blaming the Individual: Celebrating National Patient Safety Awareness Week 2023

By Michael Wong, JD (Founder & Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

National Patient Safety Awareness Week Recognizes that Systemic Errors are Not Personal Errors

When I introduce myself as an advocate trying to improve patient safety, I often get asked whether this means that I go after “bad” doctors and nurses. To put this question in a legal perspective, I’m being asked whether the “bad” doctor or nurse was negligent and has committed medical malpractice. 

This is a good question, particularly for me, as I am a lawyer and the question of medical malpractice is a legal one.

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Just One Thing Needs to Be Done to Prevent Blood Clots: Observe Blood Clot Awareness Month

By Michael Wong, JD (Founder & Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

In observance of Blood Clot Awareness Month, this article is not about 10 things or 7 ways or even 3 methods for preventing blood clots. I thought that I would make it super easy by distilling what needs to be done to just 1. 

Every 6 minutes in the US, someone dies from a blood clot!

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Our Love-Hate Relationship with Opioids: 3 Things Clinicians Can Do to Improve Patient Safety and the Quality of Patient Care

By Michael Wong, JD (Founder & Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

Our Opioid Dichotomy

Opioids are something we love and hate, all at the same time. On the one hand, they are a great pain reliever and are often used to provide analgesia and supplement sedation during general anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care. On the other hand, opioids can be addictive and too much opioids can lead to opioid overdose and death. Justine Igwe (Nursing Student in Nigeria at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus) recently wrote about opioids’ pain relief vs. addiction/overdose dichomotomy:

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Nurses are a Cornerstone to Patient Safety

By Michael Wong, JD (Founder & Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

Our healthcare system is not safe without nurses.

The COVID pandemic underscored the need for nurses. Reporting for the Kaiser Family Foundation, Nancy Ochieng, Priya Chidambaram, and MaryBeth Musumeci write:

The disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing facility residents and staff has brought increased attention to long-standing workforce issues that can affect care quality and safety, such as staffing shortages and high turnover rates. 

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