C_APPS Resources and Tools

Related to the spread of Covid both CMS and The Joint Commission permit organizations to modify their visitation practices to safeguard patients, staff, and visitors. Earlier this year, Planetree International released the “Family Presence Policy Decision Making Toolkit 2021”, which focuses specifically on decision making during Covid. Expanding on that concept, we are providing a sample Patient Visitation Policy and a decision grid which expands the risk assessment process for determining feasibility of visitation along broader conditions that may influence your organization’s decision to expand or reduce visitation.

This month we are providing you some simple tools related to the management of Breast Milk. So often when we are conducting mock surveys at our client organizations, we encounter issues with the management of Breast Milk. Whether the issue is related to storage, labeling or management of the product by the patient, they can all be tracked back to two issues; staff reliance on memory and/or unsubstantiated competency of the skills needed to manage Breast Milk.

We are also providing two CDC published posters that can be posted for staff reference along with the Courtemanche & Associates Breast Milk Management Competency Tool. The posters should be placed in convenient locations such as on or near the Breast Milk storage refrigerator and potentially in each patient room so that the staff and patients can review the safety steps that should be taken when handling breast milk.

This month’s C_APP’s is our Annual Required Policies, Procedures, Plans and Programs grid for The Joint Commission. It provides detailed information on the written documents your organization needs in order to meet The Joint Commission Hospital Accreditation Program Requirements. It is an extremely valuable tool to assist you in ensuring your organization is in compliance, as your policies and procedures establish the foundation for achieving compliance with these requirements.