Bartlett Regional | HouseCalls | Fall 2017

4 HouseCalls Spring 2016 Patient safety is paramount Nathan Overson, Compliance Coordinator “I see myself as a resource to help interpret regulation when changes to process are considered or needed.” — Nathan Overson, Compliance Coordinator H s ls Fall 2017 PATIENT SAFETY Compliance Coordinator Nathan Overson is making his weekly rounds. He’s part of the Bartlett quality team, which serves as a bridge between providers and government regulators. Our first stop is the operating room, which we enter through two sets of double doors. We can’t miss the words “authorized personnel only” in prominent red letters. Around the corner in a back office is Surgical Services Director Sherrilyn O’Connor, RN, CNOR. She greets us wearing blue scrubs and with a warm smile. Overson opens the conversation: “I have some follow-up questions from our prior conversation regarding The Joint Commission’s requirements for discharge education. Do you have a few minutes?” The Joint Commission is a not-for-profit that evaluates and accredits nearly 21,000 U.S. health care organizations and programs. A hospital certified as a Medicare or Medicaid provider must meet or exceed “Conditions of Participation” requirements, which are set forth in federal regulations. The certification is achieved based on either a survey conducted by a state agency on behalf of the federal government, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), or by a national accrediting organization, such as The Joint Commission. Bartlett Regional Hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission. O’Connor and Overson are looking at ways to improve the discharge experience for patients. At the end of their conversation, Overson tells her