The COVID-19 pandemic has strained the resources and exposed the vulnerabilities of many hospitals as they confront the most serious global health crisis in over a century. Controlling the spread of this highly contagious virus while treating infected patients and protecting staff is fundamental to…
Proper medical waste management is necessary for a medical facility. It aims for a sterile and safe environment for doctors and patients. Proper management also ensures that medical substances won’t pose a risk to our environment. Many third-party companies provide medical facilities with appropriate waste…
Fall is here, and as many had feared and predicted, COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in many parts of the U.S. Just last week, 3,400 nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, an area that’s been hit hard by the pandemic, urged…
A set of regulatory changes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will affect optometric practices and clinics starting Aug. 21, according to the American Optometric Association. Hazardous waste pharmaceutical (HWP) management standards will prohibit healthcare facilities from disposing of such wastes down the drain,…
This post, New EPA Pharmaceutical Hazardous Waste Rule Finalized, first appeared on https://www.jdsupra.com. On February 22, 2019, EPA published its final rule governing standards for the management of pharmaceutical hazardous wastes in the Federal Register (Final Rule).1 The Final Rule’s publication in the Federal Register…
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…
This post, Target to pay $7.4 million to resolve allegations regarding waste disposal, first appeared on http://www.cbs8.com/. SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Target Corp. has agreed to pay $7.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated terms of a 2011 judgment regarding the company’s handling and disposal…
This post, How to Ensure Your Healthcare Cloud Storage Stays HIPAA Compliant, first appeared on https://healthtechmagazine.net/. As healthcare professionals continue to embrace digital technologies to safeguard their patients’ information, there is an industrywide need to ensure digital ecosystems are compliant with the Health Insurance Portability…
This post, 5 steps to get a handle on your practice’s cyber vulnerability, first appeared on https://wire.ama-assn.org/. March 2, 2018 A staggering 83 percent of physicians recently told AMA researchers that their practices have experienced a cyberattack of some type. The 1,300 physicians surveyed also…
This post, Updates and Tips for Pharmaceutical Waste Management (Don’t Waste Time!), first appeared on http://www.pharmacypracticenews.com/. Despina Kotis, PharmD, FASHP Director of Pharmacy Northwestern Medicine Chicago, Illinois Katie Gauen, PharmD Medication Safety and Compliance Pharmacist Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, Illinois Institutions across the country are faced…