Tag: CMS

CMS Proposes Measuring Opioid Related Adverse Respiratory Events

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released its List of Measures under Consideration.

One of the measures under consideration is MUC17-210 which measures “Hospital Harm Performance Measure: Opioid Related Adverse Respiratory Events”:

“This measure will assess opioid related adverse respiratory events (ORARE) in the hospital setting. The goal for this measure is to assess the rate at which naloxone is given for opioid related adverse respiratory events that occur in the hospital setting, using a valid method that reliably allows comparison across hospitals.”

Continue reading “CMS Proposes Measuring Opioid Related Adverse Respiratory Events” →

Why Bundled Payments for Joint Replacement May Be Risky for Patients

The following is an excerpt of an article on bundled payments for joint replacement written by Michael Wong, JD, Executive Director of PPAHS and Lynn Razzano, RN, MSN, ONCC, Clinical Nurse Consultant at PPAHS.  It was first appeared on The Doctor Weighs In on November 18, 2016.  To read the full article, please click here.

Continue reading “Why Bundled Payments for Joint Replacement May Be Risky for Patients” →

Is it Luck or Medical Error when a Patient Dies? – Weekly Must Reads in Patient Safety (Jan 8, 2016)

When patients die in hospital, is it because their are unlucky or is it due to medical error?

Reflecting on the 15th anniversary of Institute of Medicine’s 1999 report, “To Err is Human”, Maryanne McGuckin, Dr.ScEd, FSHEA recently wrote:

Continue reading “Is it Luck or Medical Error when a Patient Dies? – Weekly Must Reads in Patient Safety (Jan 8, 2016)” →

Weekly Must Reads in Patient Safety (Feb 20, 2015)

There are great benefits to continuously monitoring patients. As members of the National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids, we admit that we have our biases.

However, two “must reads” support our position on continuous monitoring. Continue reading “Weekly Must Reads in Patient Safety (Feb 20, 2015)” →

CMS non-disclosure of medical errors indicates need for change in how healthcare performance is measured, reported in U.S.

If the federal government decided that the nation’s automakers were no longer required to publicly announce recalls of cars equipped with life-threatening defects, the protest from the masses would be deafening.

Yet, a similar scenario is playing out now in the nation’s healthcare industry with relatively little public outcry. Continue reading “CMS non-disclosure of medical errors indicates need for change in how healthcare performance is measured, reported in U.S.” →

New CMS Guidance Recommends Monitoring of All Patients Receiving Opioids

By Michael Wong, JD (executive director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

(This article first appeared in Becker’s Hospital Review.)

On March 14, 2014, CMS issued guidance “Requirements for Hospital Medication Administration, Particularly Intravenous (IV) Medications and Post-Operative Care of Patients Receiving IV Opioids.” Continue reading “New CMS Guidance Recommends Monitoring of All Patients Receiving Opioids” →

CMS Guidance Recommends Monitoring of All Patients Receiving Opioids

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued on March 14, 2014 revised guidance, “Requirements for Hospital Medication Administration, Particularly Intravenous (IV) Medications and Post-Operative Care of Patients Receiving IV Opioids”. Continue reading “CMS Guidance Recommends Monitoring of All Patients Receiving Opioids” →

Update on CMS Proposed Quality Measure on PCA Patient Safety

We would like to thank all of those who submitted comments on the proposed quality measure being considered by CMS regarding the monitoring of patients using patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps.

In the report submitted by the National Quality Forum to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the measure was not endorsed and it was decided that the measure “requires modification or further development”. More particularly, the report provides: Continue reading “Update on CMS Proposed Quality Measure on PCA Patient Safety” →

Does CMS’ Proposed Quality Measure on Patient Monitoring Adequately Address Patient Safety?

by Michael Wong

(This article first appeared in Becker’s Clinical Quality & Infection Control.)

CMS is considering a proposed quality measure that would require “appropriate monitoring of patients receiving PCA [patient-controlled analgesia].” This measure seeks to address the high number of errors that occur with PCA, which unfortunately research shows happens all too frequently. Continue reading “Does CMS’ Proposed Quality Measure on Patient Monitoring Adequately Address Patient Safety?” →

Does CMS Proposed Measure for PCA Safety Go Far Enough?

by Michael Wong

(This article is reprinted with the permission of Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare (PSQH).)

This is the question that I have been asking myself ever since Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced proposed quality measures it is considering for adoption through rule making for the Medicare program. Continue reading “Does CMS Proposed Measure for PCA Safety Go Far Enough?” →