Pain represents a growing patient concern and a flourishing service line for healthcare. Hospitals are creating pain management centers with a focus on chronic and acute pain, relying on interventional and multidisciplinary procedures targeting long-term pain. Click the link above to read more...
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a complaint against LabMD, Inc. The complaint alleging that a lack of information security was an unfair practice under Section 5 of the FTC Act. The complaint stems from two incidents: personal information for approximately 9,300 consumers became...
In looking through the ol’ e-mail bag, I received a request for info relative to what the “magic number” was to be able to “count” an influx exercise in compliance with the Emergency Management standards. In looking at this question, I thought to myself that I don’t know that we’ve tackled this...
When a non-English speaking patient is hospitalized, the hospital must provide translation services. These services could include an on-site interpreter. Name at least one other option.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued 10 penalties to California hospitals after investigations that found that the facilities were noncompliant with licensing requirements that caused or was likely to cause serious injury or death to their patients. Total fines were $674,...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 24, Issue 10
We talk often about the cost of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) violations in terms of regulatory fines and penalties, and we may also mention that similar privacy regulations with their own fines and penalties exist at the state level.
The hospital is a large, multifaceted organism with thousands of moving parts within dozens of units that are often separated by wings, streets, and buildings. The physical barriers, however, are nearly unmatched by the cultural ones-different techniques, opinions, and views of...
Briefings on Accreditation & Quality - Volume 24, Issue 10
A new player has entered the field for hospital accreditation: The Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) has received deeming authority from CMS for acute care hospitals. CIHQ joins The Joint Commission, DNV, Inc., and the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) in this...
As of March 2013, more than 85% of eligible hospitals are participating in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs, and more than 75% have received incentive payments for meaningfully using EHR technology. EHRs are the future, surely and...
