Barrins Bulletin
November/December 2024
Greetings to Our Colleagues in Behavioral Health!
Reflecting, Connecting, and Growing Together
As the year draws to a close, November and December bring a unique opportunity to reflect on the progress we’ve made, the connections we’ve strengthened, and the growth we’ve inspired within our community. These months often evoke feelings of gratitude, togetherness, and introspection, making them a meaningful time for organizations like ours to shine a light on mental health and the importance of compassionate care.
In this season of giving and hope, we are reminded of the vital role we play in supporting individuals and families through life’s challenges. Whether it’s providing comprehensive psychiatric care, supporting recovery journeys, or offering resources for emotional well-being, our mission remains clear: to be a trusted partner in fostering resilience and healing in every life we touch. Together, we’re working toward creating a brighter future where every individual has access to high quality and safe care.
In this combined issue of our newsletter, we offer insightful articles and practical tips that underscore the critical role of accreditation standards and regulatory requirements in ensuring quality and safe care. As we close out the year, let’s reflect on our shared commitment to excellence and move forward with purpose and positivity on our journey together.
Our newsletter is designed to support behavioral health organizations through this transition by offering clear, straightforward regulatory and accreditation updates, along with practical compliance tips to help navigate these challenges smoothly.
As always, we appreciate your input on the newsletter. Please take a moment to share your comments and let us know your thoughts. Additionally, we welcome suggestions for topics you would like to see covered in future issues. We eagerly anticipate hearing from you! Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to your colleagues; their insights are invaluable to us as well.
Best Regards,
A safe environment is the cornerstone of quality healthcare and is required. To achieve this, psychiatric hospitals must proactively identify and address safety risks, ensuring compliance with regulations while fostering a secure space for patients, visitors, and staff. Environment of Care (EOC) rounding plays a vital role in achieving this goal, offering a structured approach to maintaining and improving hospital safety.
What is Environment of Care Rounding? …
Recent changes to 42 CFR Part 2 were finalized in February 2024 and align the confidentiality regulations for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) records with HIPAA and the HITECH Act. These changes focus on improving care coordination and reducing regulatory burdens for.
On October 22, CMS released QSO 25-05, outlining new requirements for hospitals to report respiratory illnesses, including SARS/COVID, influenza, and RSV. Reporting began November 1, 2024, via the NHSN electronic reporting system and includes bed census and capacity data.
Hospitals can choose between two reporting options:
1. Daily data summarized and reported weekly.
2. Weekly totals of new admissions.
Psychiatric and rehabilitation hospitals, along with distinct part units, are allowed to report annually starting January 2025. The memo also introduces a warning letter process for non-compliance. The CMS memo provides further details, including links to CDC NHSN resources explaining these options.
We were founded by Anne Barrins, former Joint Commission surveyor, and are succeeded by Julia Finken, former Joint Commission surveyor, Associate Director of Business Development for the Home Care Program, and Executive Director of Business Development for the Behavioral Health Care and Psychiatric Hospital Programs.
Congratulations Corner
Congratulations to our clients who have recently, successfully completed their Joint Commission Psychiatric Hospital and/or Behavioral Health & Human Services accreditation.
Welcome New Clients!
Barrins & Associates welcomes the following new clients:
- Southbay Evaluation and Treatment
- Sedgwick County Mental Health Hospital
Why Choose Us
“I wanted to reach out to say it was lovely to meet with you. It’s always great to have fresh eyes looking at all the processes we are utilizing and keep us inspired and moving towards excellence in care.”
Shweta Amin, M.D.
Assistant Medical Director
Southwest Community Mental Health Services
Are You Survey Ready?
At Barrins & Associates we can assist you to achieve and sustain accreditation and regulatory compliance in adherence to the TJC, DNV, CHIQ, ACHC, CARF, COA, and CMS standards for psychiatric hospitals and community behavioral health and human services providers. Inquire today about our consulting services.
Inquire today about our consulting services.
We continue to support your journey toward accreditation and regulatory compliance.