Addressing Never Events Impact
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) formed its no-pay policy based on the growing work of National Quality Forum (NQF) of “never events.” Meaning, CMS will no longer pay for certain conditions that result from what might be termed poor practice or events that should never have occurred while a patient was under the care of a healthcare professional.
- Discuss specific examples of “never events” and their impact in your workplace.
- What issues are you considering for your clinical project and why?
Never Events and Their Impact
1. Surgical Errors (e.g., wrong-site surgery):
A surgical error, such as performing surgery on the wrong site, is considered a “never event” by CMS. This could include operating on the wrong limb, organ, or side of the body, and is a clear example of substandard care that should never happen in a healthcare setting. The impact on the patient is immense, leading to physical harm, emotional trauma, and potentially a prolonged recovery process. For the healthcare facility, it leads to a loss of trust, potential legal consequences, and significant financial strain due to the no-pay policy.
Example in the Workplace:
In my workplace, if a surgical error like this occurs, the healthcare facility would face not only reputational damage but also financial repercussions from CMS no longer reimbursing for the associated costs of the corrective procedures required, potentially leaving the organization to bear the full cost…
Never Events and Their Impact
1. Surgical Errors (e.g., wrong-site surgery):
A surgical error, such as performing surgery on the wrong site, is considered a “never event” by CMS. This could include operating on the wrong limb, organ, or side of the body, and is a clear example of substandard care that should never happen in a healthcare setting. The impact on the patient is immense, leading to physical harm, emotional trauma, and potentially a prolonged recovery process. For the healthcare facility, it leads to a loss of trust, potential legal consequences, and significant financial strain due to the no-pay policy.
Example in the Workplace:
In my workplace, if a surgical error like this occurs, the healthcare facility would face not only reputational damage but also financial repercussions from CMS no longer reimbursing for the associated costs of the corrective procedures required, potentially leaving the organization to bear the full cost…
