This post, Collaboration and innovation key to stemming risks for shift worker health and safety, first appeared on https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com. The ongoing demand for round-the-clock services fuels many industries. Enter shift work, which is a way of life for nearly 15 million Americans, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows. The prevalence of shift work has spurred multiple studies on its potential adverse effects on employee health and safety. Among the studies is 2017 research […]

This post, 4 Ways to Improve Your Hospital Quality and Safety Rankings, first appeared on https://www.healthleadersmedia.com. Nearly two decades after the Institute of Medicine published its groundbreaking healthcare safety report “To Err Is Human,” medical errors remain a leading cause of death in this country. To rise to this challenge, hospitals from coast to coast are engaged in efforts to boost quality and safety such as initiatives aimed at hospital-acquired infections. For one hospital in particular, […]

This post, Can law enforcement access patient information? Sometimes, first appeared on https://www.masslive.com/. Hospital emergency departments treat a diverse population that includes victims of abuse, individuals with substance abuse disorder and those who may have been involved in crime. Do situations arise where they are obligated to share patient information with law enforcement without patient authorization or cause them to initiate such cooperation in the interest of public and patient safety? Sometimes. That includes reporting evidence to law […]

This post, HIPAA and data sharing: Rethinking both for the Digital Age, first appeared on https://www.healthcareitnews.com/. By Corinne Smith Ironically, HIPAA was written at a time when most providers were on paper charts and submitting paper claims. It established a framework for protecting patient information and focused heavily on the way providers shared patient information. The subsequent HITECH (Health Information for Economic and Clinical Health) Act of 2009 focused on the promotion of electronic medical […]

This post, Complying with the HIPAA Privacy Rule During Emergency Situations, first appeared on https://healthitsecurity.com/. The last thing on healthcare professionals’ minds in emergency situations is complying with the HIPAA Privacy Rule, but it should be a priority. Emergency situations and natural disasters, such as hurricanes, pandemics, or mass casualties, can quickly overwhelm healthcare systems. The last thing on people’s minds in those situations is complying with the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Sometimes, but not always, […]