August 2024 Newsletter

In the News This Month

Greetings Everyone,

Many of our articles and Field Note Blog topics focus on our observations from the field during Mock Surveys and other service engagements. We want to highlight processes we see organizations struggling with, provide clarity on the expectations regarding current standards and regulations, and offer sound advice and suggested strategies for putting together and implementing the most robust processes and programs to enhance the quality of care and improve patient safety.

Our feature article, “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Your Pain Medication Practices,” authored by Senior Consultant and Accredited Provider Program Director, Chris Pratt addresses opportunities we frequently see in the field regarding pain medication practices and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) §482.21 Condition of Participation: Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program. Chris outlines the elements that should be incorporated in an organization’s pain medication processes, suggesting items to consider during your evaluation of your program.

Our second article, “When Trouble Strikes Is Your Team Ready?” by Patricia Cook, Senior Consultant and Head of Consulting Services discusses the recent changes to the Emergency Management Standards as they related to your emergency management framework, and challenges organizations to utilize a robust drill process to ensure clinical resources have the knowledge and hands-on skills to continue to provide care, treatment, and services no matter what disaster or emergency should arise?

Thank you for taking the time to read our articles. We hope this information is helpful in assisting you with accreditation and regulatory compliance needs. If you have any suggestions for future topics or require our services, please reach out to us at info@courtemanche-assocs.com. Our team is always available and eager to assist you in any way we can.

Pain Medication Practices

Jul 26 2024

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Your Pain Medication Practices
Pain has long been one of the primary symptoms for which patients seek healthcare.   Organizations provide various treatment modalities in an attempt to alleviate pain.  These interventions include surgery, physical therapy, medication, and psychotherapy options, to name a few.  Under §482.21 Condition of Participation: Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement ...
Read More

The Author

Christopher Pratt, MS, BSN, HACP

Chris Pratt is a Senior Consultant with Courtemanche and Associates with more than 33 years in clinical and leadership experience working in varying healthcare positions from the bedside to the Boardroom. In this role, he is responsible for assessing healthcare organizations’ readiness for licensing, accreditation, and regulatory compliance. He is trained in the survey process, auditing approach and survey outcome determination utilized by The Joint Commission, DNV, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and other regulatory agencies and accrediting organizations. He assists organizations with post-survey activities, education, patient safety strategies, and quality improvement initiatives and has experience in various health care settings including acute care, behavioral health, and ambulatory care settings.

Courtemanche & Associates Healthcare Consultant Chris Pratt
Trouble Strikes

Jul 26 2024

When Trouble Strikes Is Your Team Ready?
Overview: Over the past several years, The Joint Commission has issued standard changes to the Emergency Management Chapters in each of its accreditation programs.  These changes resulted in a realignment of the standards with each of the programs affiliated  CMS requirements. Although the work on the EM chapters had ...
Read More

The Author

The C&A Consulting Team

Our healthcare accreditation & regulatory compliance team are experts in the healthcare industry and collectively sharing more than two centuries of healthcare knowledge, wisdom & guidance. Our core team along with our top-notch partners provide a wealth of knowledge, wisdom and guidance to assist you with performance improvement and regulatory success.

Pat Cook
Tri logos Sayas Alliance parent company and sub division companies.

C&A is a division of SAYAS Alliance. Through our sister company Medical Resources Network, we also offer a range of legal nurse consulting services, including medical record review and analysis, medical chronologies, peer review, retention of medical experts, and adverse event and call center management. Learn more.

Disclaimer: The information on this website is published in good faith for general information purposes only. This website does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information.

The Joint Commission® is a registered trademark of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Courtemanche & Associates has no affiliation with this entity.

Courtemanche & Associates | (704)-573-4535 | Email: info@courtemanche-assocs.com

Shopping Cart

0