November 2020 Newsletter                      Like us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterView our profile on LinkedInView our videos on YouTube 
November is synonymous with Thanksgiving and always gives us pause to count our blessings and reflect on the unusual and varied experiences we've see in 2020.  A World Pandemic, an unpredictable future, a presidential campaign, and so much more. We want to take a moment to share our gratitude to the healthcare heroes who strive to keep us safe and continue daily to face the most devastating organism we've seen in a hundred years. We hold you all in our hearts, and we thank you for all you've done for us.
 
This month, we look to the coming year and recognize that there are new regulatory and accreditation requirements on the horizon. Join us for a quick summary of CMS and TJC expectations for 2021 from Patricia Cook, our Senior Consultant/Director of Administrative Services. For more information on what's new and changing, register for our TJC/CMS Update Webinar on November 24th.
 
You will also find in this issue the first Part of a two-part series on Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting by James Ballad.  This series focuses on changing expectations for cleaning and disinfection and serves as a  useful tutorial for all.  Included here, you will find an explanation of Biofilms, issues with cross contamination and the new focus on "enhanced cleaning."
 
Best wishes for a healthy and Happy Thanksgiving from All of Us at Courtemanche & Associates!
TJC/CMS Update 2020


While we have been dealing with Covid for the majority of 2020, some important information about CMS's expectations of Accreditation Organizations (AOs) with Deeming Authority has come to light and while Covid remains a significant health risk, there are other patient safety focused standards that were slated for implementation in 2020 that were delayed to January 1, 2021. Read More to review highlights for both areas.
 
About the Author -

Pat Cook is a Senior Consultant and Director of Administrative Services at Courtemanche & Associates. A Registered Pharmacist, Pat has nearly four decades of healthcare administrative and regulatory experience. With her extensive healthcare background, Pat serves as a knowledgeable resource to new and existing clients, helping to guide them through their accreditation and regulatory needs. Read more about Pat and our team.   

 
Environmental Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting in a Covid-19 World - Part I
   
For more than 20 years, healthcare has seen many iterations to the 'recommendations' on how to conduct cleaning and disinfecting processes. We started with just environmental surfaces, moved to noncritical environmental surfaces, then to high touch surfaces, next was Targeted Moments of Environmental Disinfection and today is Enhanced Cleaning. Read More  to review the importance for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting during a pandemic.
 
About the Author - 
 
James Ballard is a healthcare professional with over 30 years of experience responsible for assessing healthcare organizations' readiness for licensing, accreditation and regulatory compliance. He has worked in a variety of healthcare positions and his experiences range from Surgical Technologist, EMT, Combat Medicine to a Federally Certified Healthcare Surveyor (Hospital, Critical Access, Transplant, Ambulatory Survey Centers and Long-Term Care), to Director positions over Compliance, Quality, Infection Prevention, Safety, Risk Management, Employee Health, and Emergency Preparedness.

 
             
A unique program designed for leaders providing useful tools over the course of one year to assist your team in improving survey outcomes and understanding regulatory requirements and expectations.   
 
Coming November 10th . . .   
Maternal Hemorrhage 

 
 
   
Each month's package will contain a minimum of 3 documents that may include tracing tools, competencies, checklists for policies & procedures or  other useful items.   
 
The packets are designed to pertain to top problematic standards from both the available national and our internal data.  
 
 Previous offerings Include:
  • Restraint
  • Data & Quality Management
  • Preventing Surgical Site Infections
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Managing Requirements
  • Redefining Operations
  • Vulnerable Patients
  • Behavioral Health Patient Elopement
  • Antibiotic Stewardship
  • Behavioral Health Medical Record Requirements
Colleague feedback includes:
"Great tools - very user friendly and very useful"
"I like the fact that you provide the policy, tracer and competency for one focused topic" "...The checklists are very helpful"
 
To order or for more information click here 
 
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The Joint Commission® is a registered trademark of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Courtemanche & Associates has no affiliation with this entity.
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