Hospital
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Failure to Screen for Cancer, Hepatitis C Leads to $2.7 Million Verdict
This case illustrates the importance of risk factors in setting the standard of care for medical screenings and testing. Discussing a patient’s history and background, including the patient’s family medical history, is important for a physician to determine the applicable standard of care. -
Latest Leapfrog Safety Grades Include Post-Op Sepsis
The most recent grades from The Leapfrog Group represent the largest set of hospitals ever evaluated, with grades assigned to 2,901 facilities. More than 30 evidence-based measures of patient safety were assessed, including postoperative sepsis, blood leakage, and kidney injury for the first time. -
Recruitment Agreements Run Risk of Stark Law Violations
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. -
Tearing Down Barriers to Medical Error Reporting
Lack of time, complex systems prevent staff from reporting medical errors, near-misses more often.
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Cyberattacks Increasing Since Pandemic Began
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. -
Contact Manufacturer When Medical Device Is Compromised
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. -
Prepare Now for Critical Device Security Incidents
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. -
Evidence Shows Apology Laws Are Largely Ineffective
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. -
Nonhormonal Contraceptive Method Could Be Next Option
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. -
Some Good and Not-So-Good News About Abortion Information Online
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.