Healthcare Risk Management
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Hospitals sued for excessive fees to obtain medical records
Two plaintiffs are suing two Washington, DC, hospitals for what they say are excessive and illegal charges for providing copies of their electronic medical records.
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Boston hospital pays record amount for drug diversion allegations
In the largest settlement of its kind involving allegations of drug diversion at a hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston has agreed to pay the United States $2.3 million to resolve allegations that lax controls enabled MGH employees to divert controlled substances for personal use.
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Whistleblower revealed in $70 million fraud case
Federal officials have revealed the identity of a Fort Lauderdale, FL, orthopedic surgeon who blew the whistle on a hospital system that ended up paying nearly $70 million to settle charges of healthcare fraud.
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Medication errors happen in about half of surgeries
A recent study indicates that medication errors occur in about half of all surgeries, possibly because patient safety policies and procedures are relaxed in the operating room.
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The Joint Commission cautions about temporary newborn names
If the parents have not yet decided on a baby’s name, it is common at many hospitals to give the newborn a temporary name like Babyboy Smith for use in the hospital. The Joint Commission is warning that the practice can lead to patient identification errors and should be reconsidered.
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Hospital to pay $72.4 million to settle Medicare False Claims case
Tuomey Healthcare System in Sumter, SC, will pay $72.4 million to settle a $237 million judgment following the Department of Justice allegations that it illegally billed the Medicare program for services referred by physicians with whom the hospital had improper financial relationships.
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Final Stark rule still leaves uncertainty
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued the final rule on the Stark law regarding kickbacks. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services clarified some points, but left questions unanswered.
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Do EMRs take so much time that they threaten patient safety?
Electronic medical records can be polarizing: Some people love them, some people hate them.
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Disclosing medical errors to children is usually the right move
The medical community has embraced the concept of disclosing medical errors to patients promptly and honestly, but there is still some question about how to handle pediatric patients. Should you tell a child that you made a mistake? If so, how?
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Standard of care and reimbursement questioned with 3D printing
Soon there also can be a risk for hospitals that don’t use 3D printing, says Lisa Baird, JD, an attorney with the law firm of Reed Smith in Los Angeles. As the technology becomes more widespread, it could become the standard of care in some circumstances to create your own model or tool, she notes.