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With the recent release of the HITECH rule's language on breach notification, risk managers can be left wondering when they have to notify after a breach of protected health information (PHI) in violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Sometimes you should call the local newspaper and inform the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and sometimes you can just keep quiet.
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Risk managers have always struggled to prove the value of their work to health care administrators, because much of what they do consists of preventing expenditures and minimizing costs. A concerted effort to prove the worth of your department can result in a higher profile for risk management within the organization, greater stature for the risk manager, and improved resources.
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When presenting any data to upper management, it is important to present it in the way that it will be best received, says William Besse, CHS-V, executive vice president of Andrews International, a company providing security and risk mitigation services, based in Valencia, CA. Every organization has its own culture, style, and business needs, and executives will expect data to be presented in the way they prefer and that works best within the organization.
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Here's a radical idea: Instead of trying to show management why your department is worthy of respect, go on the offensive and declare that risk management is a profit center every bit as much as that shiny new cardiac center or the plastic surgery clinic.
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Only about a quarter of employers have a policy on employees' use of social networking sites, says Danielle Urban, JD, an attorney with the law firm of Fisher & Phillips in Denver.
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Nurse Cheryl James didn't think she was violating any rules when she posted her frustrations on Facebook, saying she had treated a "cop killer" that day.
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A pregnant woman exhibiting bleeding caused by placenta previa was hospitalized. Twelve days later, while walking to the bathroom, the woman experienced a massive hemorrhage, resulting in the premature birth of her twins. The hospital staff allegedly failed to adequately monitor the mother and confine her to bed, a necessity for women suffering from placenta previa. The resulting injuries to one of the infants have required multiple surgeries and rehabilitative sessions throughout her life, and she suffers from a continual debilitating condition.
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A scoring system designed to provide an early warning of patients who may need prompt care has helped a hospital decrease its code blue calls outside the intensive care unit (ICU) by 50% and increase rapid response team (RRT) calls by 110%.
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Health care facilities are being confronted with steadily increasing rates of crime, including assault, rape and murder, according to a new report from The Joint Commission (TJC) in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Providers must devote more attention to protecting patients, visitors, and staff from violence, the report says.
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An elderly woman was allegedly abused by employees at a nursing home. The woman's family repeatedly complained to management, who failed to investigate the issue. After more than a year of unaddressed complaints, the family installed a hidden camera in the room. Footage from the camera reveals multiple instances of staff abuse. A jury verdict was awarded in favor of the plaintiff in the amount of $7.75 million.
