The Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) has released the 2018 edition of its annual quality report, illustrating how deficiencies were most commonly found at the hospitals, clinical laboratories and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) it inspects.
“The quality review is designed not only to deliver a list of top deficiencies, but also provide examples of common errors and tips on how to overcome these obstacles to achieve and maintain accreditation,” HFAP CEO Meg Gravesmill said in a statement. “When preparing for accreditation, healthcare organizations need to know the ins and outs of each standard to better understand how to reach full compliance and incorporate best practices into daily routines. When the steps become second nature, it is easier for different teams to work synergistically and strengthen consistency, efficiency and overall organizational performance.”
Here are five deficiencies frequently identified in the report and ways HFAP recommends facilities address them:
1. Physical environment violations
The most frequently cited deficiencies dealt with the physical environment in facilities. HFAP said some common problems found were having insufficient emergency supplies as well as untested fire alarms, sprinkler systems and emergency generators.
For acute care hospitals, defiencies for physical environment were found in 36 percent of surveys in 2017. The rate was higher (39 percent) in critical access hospitals (CAHs). To correct these shortcomings, HFAP recommended facilities go over existing requirements to make the right assessments and checklists are in place.
