June 2020 Newsletter                      Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter View our profile on LinkedIn View our videos on YouTube 
June brings some relief from COVID-19 and initial phases of reopening in the United States.
Our continued thanks to ALL who have dedicated their time and resources to saving our lives.  
We are forever grateful for your sacrifices in keeping us safe.
 
This month's first article is the Importance of Antibiotic Stewardship and the second is the first of a two part series, Emergency Preparedness and next steps
 
Let us know what solutions you have found in your settings and questions you have on these topics or other areas you'd like to hear more about.
 
Be Safe.
When Disaster Strikes, It's One Day at a Time, But What Happens Next? Part I
 
2020 has been filled with unexpected pain, suffering and economic hardship throughout the world. The effects of this pandemic could not have been foreseen or predicted, nor could the magnitude and impact on the healthcare system. Emergency management professionals routinely navigate around natural disaster events and even mass shootings - but few imagined a pandemic with millions affected and the challenges this would present. The question now is how do we move on? Read more.  
 
About the Author -

James Ballard is an Associate Consultant 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. Mr. Ballard was the main creator of the CMS Focused Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (FQAPI) Survey process and tool for Transplant programs in Hospitals.  Read more about James and our team.  

"James is knowledgeable, personable and understood and met our needs. James is a great resource."  Tony Dillard, Anne Arundel Medical Center

 
Why Antibiotic Stewardship is Important in the Ambulatory Care Setting
Misuse of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance are major public health threats and it is estimated that more than 30% of antibiotic use in ambulatory areas may be inappropriate. Antibiotic stewardship is the effort to measure and improve antibiotic prescribing and use by patients, so these medications are only prescribed and used when needed. It is an effort to minimize misdiagnoses or delayed diagnoses leading to the inappropriate use or underuse of appropriate antibiotics and thus, ensure that the right drug, dose, and duration are selected when an antibiotic is needed. Read more . 
 
About the Author - 

Denise Smith, RN,MS,CLNC is an Associate Consultant with Courtemanche & Associates.  Denise has more than 40 years of experience and expertise in Infection Prevention, Sterile Processing, Legal Nurse Consulting, Quality and Resource Management, Clinical Education, and a variety of acute inpatient and outpatient care settings.Clinically, Denise is a licensed Registered Nurse with an extensive background in Infection Prevention and Control for perioperative settings, Sterile Processing and Quality Management. Read more about Denise and our team.  

 
 C_APPS Membership   
             
A unique program designed for leaders that provides access to useful tools over the course of one year to assist your team in improving survey outcomes and understanding regulatory requirements and expectations.   
 
Coming June 10th . . .   
Resuming Operations  

 
 
 
 
 
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
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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