Today’s healthcare systems are undergoing extensive transformations that many of us could not have imagined 10 or 20 years ago. Between the boom in innovation and the ever-changing regulations and compliance initiatives, today’s healthcare environment is quite complex.
Logistics of Healthcare Organizations
Healthcare organizations are facing unprecedented change, from evolving care delivery and reimbursement models to increasing patient demands and ever-changing compliance mandates. But with the right approach, technology can help health organizations achieve significantly better patient outcomes, improve efficiency, and meet the ongoing compliance pressures.
If the appropriate technology is properly integrated into an organization, it can aid in improvements across the healthcare system which in turn can, contain costs, improve compliance and save lives. For example, in a high-risk industry like healthcare, effective communication is especially vital, making electronic communication technology all the more valuable. The efficiency and speed of electronic communication has changed the way we live our lives, including how we work and communicate information. Ten to fifteen years ago we did not have cell phones or tablets always at our fingertips, making communication a timely and inefficient task. Technology has improved the link between patients and doctors and vice versa, in turn increasing efficiency of office visits, patient satisfaction, and care, even compliance. Since ultimately, healthcare compliance is about providing safe, high-quality patient care.
Electronic Communication Technology
A great example of electronic communication technology that can help medical facilities improve efficiency, while simultaneously improving patient care and compliance is MIJA’s Critical Alert family of products. The Critical Alert, low oxygen visual and audible alarms provide busy medical staff the ability to focus on patient care and completing necessary tasks rather than wasting valuable time constantly checking a patient’s oxygen gauge. The risk of a patient running out of oxygen is very real and can be quite expensive if found to be out of compliance for patient care requirements. See some of the clients and organizations we are helping with Critical Alert here!
CMS Standards
For example, nursing facilities that provide care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries are subject to compliance surveys conducted annually by state health agencies and must meet the requirements in 42 C.F.R. §§ 483.1-483.75. Being tagged for a patient running out of oxygen can run the gamut, but most tags will fall under 483.25 Quality of Care:
- F281 (Professional Standards) – Failure to provide treatment as ordered
- F309 (Quality of Care) – Avoidable decline in condition
- F328 (Special Needs) – Failure to provide proper respiratory care.
The real issue for this is that it can be a citation at any level as the consequences for running out of oxygen is so severe going from potential to more than reasonable harm to immediate jeopardy. To learn more about pressure gauges role in healthcare, check out this blog post!
MIJA Products: Improving Healthcare
With today’s ongoing business pressures, healthcare facilities need to find ways to better utilize resources that will allow the facility to operate efficiently, cost-effectively, and deliver the care that the patients need, the Critical Alert is a great solution. If you have questions regarding MIJA’s impact in the healthcare industry, products we offer, or success stories of our products, give us a call today or fill out a convenient online contact form on the right of the page.