The Healthcare Risk Control ( HRC ) System

1. The Healthcare Risk Control (HRC) System Your trusted source of practical advice for reducing risk and ensuring patient safety

2. What Does HRC Membership Include? • In-depth articles and tools on specific risk management topics • A bimonthly newsletter and weekly e-newsletter discussing the latest developments • Online resources, including everything you receive in print, plus Web-exclusive articles, columns, tools, and other features • Consultation services • Discounts on many other ECRI Institute products and services

3. Risk Analyses Gain a thorough understanding of individual risk management and patient safety issues. The HRC System contains hundreds of Risk Analyses on specific topics. In addition to discussing topics in-depth, Risk Analyses provide action recommendations, lists of resources, supplementary articles, and executive summaries. Every other month, you’ll receive in the mail a packet of newly updated Risk Analyses and other print resources. All Risk Analyses are available on the HRC Members’ Web site as well. Click here for more information on using the HRC Members’ Web site and accessing Web exclusives.

4. Self-Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs) Evaluate current practices and risks, and plan for the future. Facilities can use SAQs to help assess risks and safety related to particular services, units, and topics. New or updated SAQs are occasionally included in bimonthly mailings, and all SAQs are available on the HRC Members’ Web site as well. Click here for more information on using the HRC Members’ Web site and accessing Web exclusives.

5. Training Programs Improve the proficiency and knowledge of your facility’s workforce. These ready-to-use training packets include a slide presentation that can be adapted to meet facility needs and include facility-specific information. Additional materials include a training preparation guide, teaching plans, pre- and posttraining quizzes, and sample training memos, attendance sheets, and evaluation forms. New or updated Training Programs are occasionally included in bimonthly mailings, and all Training Programs are also available on the HRC Members’ Web site. Click here for more information on using the HRC Members’ Web site and accessing Web exclusives.

6. The Risk Management Reporter Keep abreast of developments in your field. The Reporter, mailed every other month and available on the HRC Members’ Web site, reviews important news in risk management and patient safety. Click here for more information on using the HRC Members’ Web site and accessing Web exclusives.

7. HRC Alerts Learn about the latest industry news almost as it happens. HRC Alerts, the HRC System’s weekly e-newsletter, includes up-to-the-minute information on developments in risk management and patient safety, HRC recommendations, and links to HRC resources. HRC Alerts will be e-mailed to you each week. The week’s current issue and archives of past issues are also available on the HRC Members’ Web site. Click here for more information on using the HRC Members’ Web site and accessing Web exclusives.

8. Sample Policies and Tools See how other facilities have addressed challenges, and access expert guidance from regulatory, accrediting, and patient safety agencies. HRC offers an online library of more than 450 sample policies and tools. Click here for more information on using the HRC Members’ Web site and accessing Web exclusives.

9. Web Exclusives Discussion forums. Ask how colleagues have approached the issues you're facing, discuss the latest news, raise new topics for discussion, and share your own expertise. To access the forums, click here. Audio library. Listen to the experts—literally. The audio library includes excerpts from interviews with ECRI Institute experts and other resources on a variety of topics. Technology Overviews. Better understand your facility’s technology. These provide information on individual healthcare technologies, including the technology’s purpose, principles of operation, reported problems, and purchase considerations. Click here for more information on using the HRC Members’ Web site and accessing Web exclusives.

10. Web Exclusives (cont.) Hot topics. Get instant help on key challenges. These pages list a wealth of HRC resources, including HRC publications and Web exclusives, on risk managers’ most pressing issues. Environmental extras. Ensure a safe environment of care. This section houses about 150 Web-exclusive articles, SAQs, Training Programs, and other tools on environmental health, security, and worker safety topics. Risk management Web columns. Access even more expertise and at-a-glance data. Browse archives of HRC’s weekly online columns—Ask HRC, Data Snapshots, and Risk Management Tips. Click here for more information on using the HRC Members’ Web site and accessing Web exclusives.

11. Need Help with a Particular Issue? Just ask HRC. Use the HRC Members’ Web site to search the entire HRC System, plus other ECRI Institute resources, for a particular term. Click here for more information on using the HRC Members’ Web site and accessing Web exclusives.

12. What is the best approach for correcting errors such as misspellings in a signed informed consent document? How can I determine whether a medical device incident should be reported under the Safe Medical Devices Act? How should we respond if patients bring in non-FDA-approved medicines? Does ECRI Institute have any recommendations for guarding against the use of counterfeit products? Consultation Services Trust ECRI institute's independence, integrity, and 40-plus years of experience. Call or e-mail ECRI Institute’s senior analysts for advice. Click here for more information on using the HRC Members’ Web site and accessing Web exclusives.

13. Contact Us • Paul Anderson, Director, Risk Management Publications • (610) 825-6000, ext. 5244 • panderson@ecri.org • Sharon Murphy, Director, National Accounts • (610) 825-6000, ext. 5145 • smurphy@ecri.org • HRC analysts • hrc@ecri.org • Fax: (610) 834-1275 • Click “Contact Us” on the Web Site