Healthcare Risk Management
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DEA Rule Changes for Reporting Lost or Stolen Drugs
The Drug Enforcement Administration recently released guidance that clears up some ambiguity regarding compliance with the Controlled Substances Act. The guidance regards the reporting requirements for controlled substances that are lost or stolen.
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IV Failures Becoming Major Malpractice Risk
Up to half of IVs fail. In many cases, those failures cause serious harm to the patient, ranging from medication dosing errors to amputation and death. Malpractice cases based on IV failures are a growing concern for hospitals and health systems.
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Hospitals Work Together to Prevent Patient Violence
A series of violent attacks on personnel has prompted hospitals in San Diego to create a task force to address this serious problem familiar to hospital leaders across the country. The task force works with local law enforcement to develop tactics to keep healthcare workers safe.
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CDC Publishes Guide to Help Hospitals Diagnose, Treat Sepsis
The agency details seven pillars upon which leaders can build a successful program.
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Virtual Rounds Shorten Lengths of Stay
An Arizona facility cut more than 3,000 excess days for a savings of more than $6 million over 10 months.
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Plan Now for Eventual HIPAA Changes
HHS has been expected to finalize proposed modifications to HIPAA in 2023, but it now appears that will not happen until December 2024 — or later. Whenever the changes come, covered entities will need to review their compliance policies and update them within 180 days of final rulemaking.
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Employee Curiosity Sometimes Overcomes HIPAA Training
Recently, a hospital in Washington was fined $240,000 in a settlement with the Office for Civil Rights over allegations that 23 security guards snooped in the medical records of 419 patients — a reminder that this pernicious type of HIPAA violation is difficult to eliminate.
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Court Orders New Trial After Finding Hospital’s Expert Lacked Necessary Qualifications
This case shows how expert testimony plays a crucial role in establishing the cause of injuries and determining liability in medical malpractice litigation. It also highlights the importance of selecting an expert who is not only qualified to offer an opinion on general causation, but one who is qualified to offer an opinion on specific causation. The difference between the two is the difference between a favorable verdict and a retrial.
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Court Dismisses Patient’s Complaint After Time Runs Out on State’s Statute of Repose
This ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of state-specific statutes of repose and their implications on medical practice and potential litigation, especially in circumstances interacting with federal law, where applicable.
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Check Insurance Coverage for Natural Disasters
Healthcare organizations should know if they are adequately insured for natural disasters. Organizations should review their policies with their insurance agents to understand what coverage they have for natural disasters and what additional coverage they might need.