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Hospitals may enter into recruitment agreements to bring needed physicians into the community. However, serious legal issues can arise related to the Stark Law, which prohibits making referrals involving a compensation arrangement or investment interests.
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Since the beginning of the pandemic, the healthcare industry has seen a significant rise in cyberattacks. The combination of the pandemic’s effects — crowded facilities, expanded telehealth usage, exhausted workers — with more reliance on medical devices has left the industry vulnerable to cybercriminals.
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The response plan for a compromised medical device should include contacting the device manufacturer. The security of medical devices should be addressed from the time the medical provider contracts to purchase the device. Obtain information from the manufacturer regarding the security of the device, such as the Manufacturer Disclosure Statement for Medical Device Security.
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Hospitals and health systems are increasingly dependent on sophisticated medical devices for patient care and maintaining safety, but not all are ready to respond effectively when hackers access those devices. Risk managers should ensure an effective response plan is in place that is well practiced and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.
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What was once a nagging suspicion is becoming established fact. There is growing evidence demonstrating the “apology laws” enacted by most states to protect clinicians after adverse events have little positive effect. These apologies might even encourage patients to sue, and they can work against a defendant during trial.
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Researchers have found a potential new female contraceptive that could prevent pregnancy without affecting hormones. New research shows the benefits of using monoclonal antibodies to trap and block human sperm.
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Researchers have spent a few years trying to understand how abortion information is presented online and how it is understood by laypeople. This is one of those controversial healthcare issues in which internet information is more likely to be intentionally false than it is to be inaccurate due to ignorance or misinterpretation of data.
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More than one-third of abortion providers reported being harassed by anti-abortion individuals, including intimidation and invasive behavior. Some providers experienced intentional public exposure of their abortion work and discreditation, according to new research.
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Women’s preferences in contraceptive methods can change with time and circumstances in their lives, new research shows. Values and preferences are influenced by the contraceptive method’s effectiveness, access, convenience, side effects, societal norms, and other issues.
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Reproductive health providers could help patients better understand their risks of both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by asking nonjudgmental questions about their sexual activity, and offering testing for STIs and a vaccine for HPV.
