About Clinical Care
California’s hospitals are dedicated to providing high-quality, safe, and person-centered health care. This wouldn’t be possible without the clinical services hospitals provide, which include emergency care, surgery, X-ray/radiology, laboratory services, and behavioral health care. The care that hospitals provide is shaped by their communities’ needs.
HQI Quality Quarterly Spotlights Patient Safety Strategies
What’s happening: The latest edition of Quality Quarterly explores the prevalence of behavioral health conditions among California hospital encounters, the dangers of menopause misdiagnosis, new patient safety measures outlined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the need for effective reporting of workplace violence incidents by hospital staff.
What else to know: More than half of California hospitals now use HQI’s Hospital Quality Improvement Platform (HQIP), which provides comparative analytics to help hospitals identify opportunities for improvement. Learn about HQIP’s new features and updates in this latest edition.
CHLA’s Aerodigestive Program Helps Baby with Chronic Lung Disease
Thanks to the impressive coordination of Children Hospital Los Angeles’s Aerodigestive Program, Sam breathes easier and can finally say “Mama.”
IV Solution Shortage Resources
CHA has compiled the following federal, state, and local resources to assist hospitals in navigating the current IV solution shortage:
State
Federal
Clinical Guidance
Situational Updates
United Through Crisis
Crisis has a way of reminding us of our commonalities.
Take, for instance, Hurricane Helene. Though California is far from the storm’s devastation, its effects have rippled all the way to our coast due to the temporary closure of Baxter International’s North Carolina plant, which supplies 60% of the nation’s IV fluids. Hospitals across the country are working to ensure continued patient care despite a shortage of supplies critical to emergency care, trauma, oncology, surgery, and other lifesaving services.
CHA Responds to Nationwide IV Fluid Shortage
What’s happening: On Oct. 3, CHA informed members of an IV fluid shortage due to the temporary closure of Baxter International’s North Carolina plant, which supplies 60% of the country’s IV solutions. The facility was damaged by flooding from Hurricane Helene.
What else to know: The update from CHA includes guidance for hospitals to mitigate the impact of the IV shortage.
Johnson & Johnson Halts Proposed 340B Rebate Model
What’s happening: Johnson & Johnson will stop its plan that would have required hospitals participating in the 340B drug discount program to purchase Stelara and Xarelto at full price and apply for a rebate instead of receiving full discounts upfront.
What else to know: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) notified J&J it would be kicked out of the 340B Drug Pricing Program if it did not halt implementation.
CHPSO’s October Webinars Address Three Critical Issues in Health Care
What’s happening: This month, the Collaborative Healthcare Patient Safety Organization (CHPSO) is hosting three separate webinars that address patient safety, health care professional suicide, and maternal sepsis.
What else to know: Each webinar is designed to equip health care professionals with the latest research, practical solutions, and tools for improving patient outcomes and supporting clinician well-being — and CHA/CHPSO members who attend may earn continuing education credits with the California Board of Registered Nursing.
California Board of Pharmacy Licenses Will Only Be Processed Online, Effective Jan. 1
What’s happening: Starting Jan. 1, 2025, California State Board of Pharmacy licenses eligible for renewal will be processed solely online.
What else to know: The Board of Pharmacy will no longer mail a paper renewal application for the following licensees: pharmacist, advance practice pharmacist, pharmacy technician, and other designated representatives.
Ask Reps. to Sign Letter Opposing 340B Program Changes
What’s happening: A bipartisan group of U.S. representatives is leading a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra about efforts by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to undermine the 340B Drug Discount Program.
What else to know: Hospital leaders should call or email their U.S. representative and urge them to sign on to the letter by Sept. 27.
CMS Requests Information on AI Use in Health Care
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a request for information (RFI) on how artificial intelligence (AI) is used to improve health care delivery, with the goal of informing future rulemaking.
What else to know: CMS will select organizations to showcase their AI products and services to educate the agency and inform future policymaking during a series of “Demo Days” starting in October.