Articles Tagged With: COVID-19
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COVID-19: What Providers Should Know
The disease associated with COVID-19 is now a significant event in world history, with uncertain but likely major consequences for individuals, families, healthcare workers, health systems, and the global economy. There remains a great deal to learn.
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Implications of COVID-19 for Primary Care
Primary care physicians often are the first to communicate with potential COVID-19 patients. Without definitive testing, it is challenging to reliably provide an accurate differential diagnosis, but there is a developing list of signs and symptoms associated with COVID-19.
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EMTALA 1135 Waivers Allow Flexibility
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued waivers for some Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA) requirements, acknowledging certain expectations are not reasonable to achieve during a pandemic. However, EMTALA still applies.
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Telehealth Rules Eased, but Oversight Still Needed
The federal government acted quickly to make telehealth services more accessible in the COVID-19 pandemic, but risk managers must fully understand the changes to avoid creating liability risks. Some telehealth changes are aimed at making the service reimbursable, and therefore available to more patients. But there also are compliance issues.
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CMS Issues Stark Waivers, Makes Other Allowances for Pandemic
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued waivers and allowances that will affect risk management programs, including 18 blanket waivers of sanctions under the Stark Law.
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COVID-19 Creates Multiple Risk Exposures as Hospitals Respond
Risk managers should recognize several types of potential liabilities and exposures related to the COVID-19 pandemic response. Some compliance and regulatory burdens have been eased, but risks remain.
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Healthcare Workers’ Well-Being Is Ethical Concern During Pandemic
Clinicians always face some risk as they carry out routine duties, including acquiring infection or sustaining injury. However, the pandemic has significantly increased these risks, with healthcare providers around the world acquiring the infection at work.
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The COVID-19 Vaccine: Usual Ethical Questions in Unusual Times
Informed consent, protection of human subjects, fairness of testing, and eventual distribution: These all are important ethical questions and considerations surrounding the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.
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Shortcuts in Clinical Trials May Cause More Harm Than Good
All clinical trials raise certain ethical issues. But trials conducted during epidemics are especially difficult, both ethically and practically. Poorly designed studies subject patients to the risks of adverse events without learning if the intervention works.
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Transparency Is Central Ethical Concern During COVID-19 Pandemic
Developing an ethical framework before disasters helps leaders make better-informed, values-based decisions. This also engenders public trust, easing fear and reducing misinformation.