Quality & Safety Resources
Lewis P. Gundry Health Sciences Library
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Quality & Safety Journals
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*This list was originally compiled by fellow Ascension Librarians in the Texas ministry
- Health Care–Associated Infections: Best Practices for Prevention
- Guidelines for the prevention of bloodstream infections and other infections associated with the use of intravascular catheters
- SHEA/APIC/IDSA/PIDS multisociety position paper: Raising the bar: necessary resources and structure for effective healthcare facility infection prevention and control programs
- Prevention and Control Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) National Clinical Guideline No. 2
- Suspected sepsis: recognition, diagnosis and early management
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*This list was originally compiled by fellow Ascension Librarians in the Texas ministry
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
AHRQ Patient Safety Network (PSNet)
American College of Medical Quality (AACMQ)
American Hospital Association (AHA) - Quality and Patient Safety
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
Health.gov - Federal Resources for Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
Joint Commission (formerly Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)
Leapfrog Group for Patient Safety
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*This list was originally compiled by fellow Ascension Librarians in the Texas ministry
Good Day Ascension Infection Prevention Community Guide
Welcome to our Ascension Infection Prevention Community!
The purpose of our community is to: reduce infection risk system wide by promoting best practices, standardization of care and identifying innovative methods to sustain a safer environment from infection to our patients, associates and our visitors.
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Joint Commission has many open and free information sources on its web site. Click to access the valuable information on CLABSI with guidelines, prevention measures, etc.
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- Current effective standards for all Joint Commission accreditation and certification programs are available.
Articles of Interest
Khan, A, Cohen, T, Shappell, S & Boquet, A. (2025). Uncovering Latent Failures Using Human Factors Approach as a Diagnostic Tool for Quality Improvement in Orthopedic Surgery. American Journal of Medical Quality, 40, 255-260. https://doi.org/10.1097/JMQ.0000000000000265
Abstract
Human factors significantly influence medical quality, especially in complex environments like orthopedic surgery, where latent failures can compromise patient safety. A total of 3168 intraoperative events were observed across 40 orthopedic procedures and classified using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS). Three trained coders independently applied HFACS across 4 tiers and 19 causal categories. Interrater reliability was measured through percent agreement and Fleiss' Kappa using unanimous, majority, and reconciled coding conditions. Nearly all observed disruptions (98.97%) were classified as preconditions to unsafe acts, most (68.75%) stemmed from crew resource management failures, distractions from personal electronic devices, poor communication, and sales representative presence. A total of 19.47% of disruptions were due to personal readiness, due to the sales representation supporting role in ensuring technologies. An additional 5.87% were due to physical environment issues like equipment noise.
Conclusions: The HFACS framework demonstrated strong reliability in identifying systemic weaknesses within orthopedic surgical workflows. These findings emphasize the urgent need for structured interventions that reduce distractions, improve team communication, and regulate vendor interactions in the operating room, all essential steps toward advancing safety and enhancing overall patient care quality.
Abbott Sued by Patient After Early Replacement of Trifecta GT Heart Valve
(2026). Abbott Sued by Patient After Early Replacement of Trifecta GT Heart Valve. Biomedical Safety & Standards, 56 (6), 161-162. doi: 10.1097/01.BMSAS.0001189116.40558.60.
Excerpt:
A patient whose Trifecta GT heart valve failed 6 years after implantation has sued Abbott Laboratories.
Xing, Kuoran , Wang, Qiang , Dadol, Glebert Cañete , et al
Potential applications of artificial intelligence with large datasets for predicting food biotoxicity, Food Quality and Safety, vol 26 no 10, February 2026.
Abstract
Food safety is a critical global concern, as toxic substances in food pose serious risks to public health. With the rise of novel
food products such as cell-cultured, fermented, and genetically modified items, there is an urgent need for more efficient
and accurate methods to assess food toxicity. Traditional testing approaches often lack the speed, scalability, and
sensitivity needed to detect emerging toxicants. Omics-based technologies now offer comprehensive insights into
biological responses, enabling the identification of subtle or unknown toxic effects. However, the complexity and scale
of omics data present significant challenges for interpretation. To address this, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as
a powerful tool to analyze large datasets and improve toxicity prediction. In this review, we summarize key categories of
food toxicants, introduce omics technologies and publicly available databases, outline general AI modeling workflows,
and highlight recent applications of AI in food safety. Together, AI with large amount of food-related data are shaping
the future of food safety strategies.
Jiun-Yih Lee; Jui-Ting Chang, Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, The, Copyright © 2026 / Article in Press
Abstract
Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives are vital for enhancing patient safety and operational efficiency in healthcare. However, sustaining these improvements post-implementation remains challenging. This study explores factors influencing the sustainability of QI projects in Taiwan, bridging research gaps through the integration of theoretical frameworks and empirical data.
The study analyzed 123 QI projects implemented at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital between 2017 and 2023. A validated questionnaire identified sustainability factors across four dimensions: activity characteristics, team attributes, sustainability mechanisms, and contextual factors. Random Forest modeling classified project sustainability and ranked variable importance.
Five critical factors influencing sustainability were identified: alignment with clinical needs, substantial patient benefits, team competency in QI methods, information technology integration, and work efficiency improvements. The model demonstrated high predictive accuracy for short- and mid-term sustainability but lower accuracy for long-term impacts due to sample imbalances.
This study empirically validates key factors influencing QI sustainability in Taiwan. Recommendations include prioritizing patient-centered and clinically relevant projects, enhancing information technology integration, and investing in team training to improve healthcare quality globally.
Yang, J. (2026). Global Burden of Adverse Effects of Medical Treatment, 1990-2021: Trends, Inequities, and Projections From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Journal of Patient Safety, 22 (3), 173-181. doi: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000001440.
Abstract
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Implementing Participation-level Goals to Improve Patient-Centeredness in Pediatric Rehabilitation
Tanner, K. , Boster, J. , Gates, E. , Rospert, A. , Coleman Casto, S. , O’Rourke, S. , Gillespie, J. & Bican, R. (2026). Implementing Participation-level Goals to Improve Patient-Centeredness in Pediatric Rehabilitation. Pediatric Quality and Safety, 11 (2), e874. doi: 10.1097/pq9.0000000000000874.
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