COVID-19 Drives New Safety Programs, But Staff, Infection Problems Remain
After two years of dealing with COVID-19, hospitals and health care systems are creating new programs to improve safety for patients, staff and visitors. But staff burnout, staff shortages and rates of infection remain problems and 33% of hospital and health care leaders say not enough is being done, according to a new survey. The findings were part of “A New Era for Hospital Safety: What We’ve Learned from the Pandemic and What Still Needs
TN Together: National Take Back Day is April 30th, 2022
The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Department of Health, and TN Together are teaming up to encourage participation in the upcoming National Drug Take-Back Day on April 30th, 2022. Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That’s dangerous and often tragic. That’s why it was great to see thousands of folks from across the country clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in – safely and
OSHA pleads with healthcare employers to help reduce worker injuries, illnesses
Amid a rise in healthcare worker injuries and illnesses, the Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is urging facilities and providers in the industry to employ effective safety and health programs. OSHA made the plea in a news release Feb. 8, about a week ahead of National Caregivers Day on Feb. 18. U.S. healthcare workers saw a 249 percent increase in injury and illness rates in 2020 compared to the year before, and workers in the
OSHA highlights healthcare worker safety on National Caregivers Day
Amid the pandemic, U.S. healthcare workers experienced a 249% increase in injury and illness rates in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, workers in the healthcare and social assistance industries combined suffered more injuries and illnesses than workers in any industry in the nation. Risk management in healthcare facilities As National Caregivers Day falls on February 18, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) calls on healthcare
HIPAA in 2022: 5 ways to keep your practice in compliance
The first two parts of this series on HIPAA in 2022 examined regulatory updates related to interoperability and OpenNote, and privacy, patient rights and security. That’s a lot to get your arms around during these challenging times. You may feel overwhelmed and ask yourself how to keep up-to-date on all of this year’s changes, and how to start to ensure that my practice is in full HIPAA compliance? This is perfectly understandable! Here are five
Four Ways Covered Entities Can Ensure HIPAA Compliance
Every healthcare organization knows about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). It’s part of daily life for those working in a healthcare setting, and it can be — from a cybersecurity perspective — a difficult set of regulations to navigate. HIPAA violations can result in a minimum fine of $50,000, not to mention the reputation cost as well as time and money spent if that HIPAA violation results in a data breach. With
Back to basics… what is HIPAA?
What is HIPAA? HIPAA is an acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Among other measures, the Act led to the establishment of federal standards for safeguarding patients´ “Protected Health Information” (PHI) and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI created, maintained, processed, transmitted, or received electronically (ePHI). When the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was passed by Congress in 1996, the establishment of federal standards for safeguarding PHI was not
Can your at-home COVID-19 test go in the trash?
Can you throw your at-home, rapid COVID-19 test in the trash, or is it considered hazardous biological waste? Unlike at hospitals, at-home tests can be thrown in the normal trash, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the Miami Herald in January. However, some states have taken different stances. In Delaware, schools should treat the kits as infectious waste, according to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Schools have been directed
5 Top Safety Issues for Hospitals to Address in 2022
As the healthcare industry enters the pandemic’s third year, many leaders are working to reinvigorate staff and patient safety efforts. Below are five of the most pressing safety issues for hospitals and health systems to address in 2022, based on expert insights, research findings and trends reported in the past year. 1. Foundational safety work. First and foremost, healthcare organizations must ensure they have a strong foundation to refine safety efforts and sustain improvements, according
