Healthcare Risk Management – July 1, 2005
July 1, 2005
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E-mail for doctors is here to stay, but precautions are needed to curb the risk
Take two aspirin and e-mail in the morning creates serious risk First of two parts on risk and e-mail E-mail is becoming increasingly common in health care, but chances are your policies and procedures have not kept up with the serious risks that can be created when people send e-mail without stringent safeguards. -
Preserving e-mail applies to whole range of litigation
Litigation regarding e-mail in health care already has reached the trial level, says Edward C. Mintzer Jr., a partner with the law firm of Rawle & Henderson in Philadelphia. -
HIPAA violations possible unless e-mail is controlled
With more and more health information being transferred electronically, risk managers must be more cautious than ever about complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), says Cheryl Camin, JD, an attorney on the HIPAA practice team at the Dallas law firm of Gardere Wynne. -
E-mail guidelines call for strict privacy safeguards
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) in Chicago offers extensive guidelines for reducing the various risks associated with e-mail use in health care. -
2006 Patient Safety Goals include labeling of meds
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has announced the 2006 National Patient Safety Goals and related requirements for each of its accreditation programs, with new requirements for safely handing off patients from one caregiver to another. -
OR fire risk can increase with alcohol-based prep
The use of alcohol-based surgical preparations in the operating room is gaining new attention as a potential fire risk, and one expert says risk managers should ensure that OR staff take specific steps to prevent serious injury. -
Defensive medicine comes at a high cost to doctors
More than 90% of surveyed physicians in Pennsylvania reported defensive medicine practices such as overordering of diagnostic tests, unnecessary referrals, and avoidance of high-risk patients, according to a recent study. -
Infections acquired in the hospital continue to rise
Hospital-acquired infections are worsening in the United States, according to a recent report from Colorado-based Health Grades Inc. And a hospitals infection rate may be correlated with its likelihood for medical errors, the group suggests. -
Despite new technologies, drug-ordering errors persist
Errors in drug ordering, dosage, and monitoring that may have serious consequences for patients persist in hospitals even after the adoption of computerized medication systems, according to a recent study. -
Latex used despite known allergy — cysts develop: $3.75 million GA verdict
By Jan J. Gorrie, Esq. Buchanan Ingersoll PC Tampa, FL News: Prior to surgery, a patient informed the hospital of her allergy to latex. Despite this warning, a latex catheter was used and she subsequently developed interstitial cystitis. She brought suit against the health care providers and was awarded $3.75 million in damages. -
Trip over vacuum cord leads to a $150K award
News: A patient tripped and fell over a vacuum cord after he had been discharged from the hospital, dressed, and was walking toward the nursing station to retrieve his valuables. He was readmitted for surgery to repair his torn medial meniscus. He sued the hospital and its cleaning service and was awarded $150,000 in damages.