In the News This Month
Greetings Everyone,
Safety as an organizational priority is paramount. Teamwork, patient involvement, openness/ transparency, and accountability are all key factors for success. Denise Smith's article "What is Culture of Safety," highlights the benefits for healthcare organizations to promote a safe and supportive environment within an organization, as well as suggestions to enhance their culture of safety practice.
An important component in combating patient risk is addressing the disparities that exist in our healthcare system. One area of great concern is the rise in pregnancy deaths, in particular, those caused by Maternal Hemorrhage. In this month's article, "Preventing Maternal Hemorrhage From a Healthcare Disparity & Safety Perspective," Co-authors, Anne Kelly and Denise Smith suggest robust strategies healthcare organizations can enact to ensure awareness for staff and patients and mitigate the risks.
We hope you find these articles informative and helpful in assisting you with your ongoing regulatory readiness. Please feel free to reach out to us at info@courtemanche-assocs.com with any topics you would like to see featured or for any service needs you may have.
Building a Culture of Safety in Healthcare
About the Authors
Denise Smith, RN, BS, MS, CLNC, HACP-CMS
Denise Smith is Head of Consulting & a Senior Consultant with Courtemanche & Associates. In this role she is responsible for assessing healthcare organizational readiness for licensing, certification, accreditation, and regulatory compliance. She has extensive knowledge in the requirements of The Joint Commission, DNV, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services including knowledge in their survey process, auditing approach and survey outcome determination. She also has knowledge and experience in AAAHC and other regulatory and accreditation organizations. She assists organizations with survey preparation, educational needs, post survey activities, patient safety strategies and quality improvement initiatives. Denise has more than 40 years of experience and expertise in Infection Prevention, Sterile Processing, Legal Nurse Consulting, Quality and Resource Management, Clinical Education, in acute inpatient and outpatient care settings.
Preventing Maternal Hemorrhage – a Healthcare Disparity & Safety Perspective
About the Authors
Patricia Cook, B.S., R.Ph, HACP, GRCP
Pat Cook is a Senior Consultant at Courtemanche & Associates. She has four decades of healthcare administrative and regulatory experience where she served in multiple leadership positions including Drug Distribution Supervisor, Assistant Director of Pharmacy and Director of Pharmaceutical Care. Her experience with regulatory compliance, licensure and accreditation spans over 30 years and involved survey coordination and survey readiness and response across hospital, long term care, ambulatory care, behavioral health, and home care practice settings. Prior to joining the C&A team, Pat’s most recent healthcare experience was serving as System Vice President of Accreditation and Licensure for RWJ Barnabas Health. where Additionally, she also holds the following certifications, Six Sigma Green Belt, Certified Healthcare Accreditation Professional (HACP), and is a Master Trainer in TeamSTEPPS.
Denise Smith, RN, BS, MS, CLNC, HACP-CMS
Denise Smith is Head of Consulting & a Senior Consultant with Courtemanche & Associates. In this role she is responsible for assessing healthcare organizational readiness for licensing, certification, accreditation, and regulatory compliance. She has extensive knowledge in the requirements of The Joint Commission, DNV, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services including knowledge in their survey process, auditing approach and survey outcome determination. She also has knowledge and experience in AAAHC and other regulatory and accreditation organizations. She assists organizations with survey preparation, educational needs, post survey activities, patient safety strategies and quality improvement initiatives. Denise has more than 40 years of experience and expertise in Infection Prevention, Sterile Processing, Legal Nurse Consulting, Quality and Resource Management, Clinical Education, in acute inpatient and outpatient care settings.
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