CMS issues memo on violence in hospitals, expectations聽
A new from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is reinforcing the agency鈥檚 role in enforcing regulatory expectations that patients and hospital staff have an environment that prioritizes their safety to ensure effective delivery of health care. The memo, from the directors of the Quality, Safety & Oversight and Survey & Operations groups, reminds hospitals of their responsibility, per Medicare鈥檚 conditions of participation, to provide adequate training, sufficient staffing levels, and ongoing assessment of patients and residents for aggressive behavior and indicators, with an overarching expectation that care interventions and environments are appropriately adapted. CMS notes that in the past, it has cited hospitals for failure to meet these obligations.