Healthcare Risk Management – August 1, 2013
August 1, 2013
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Wave of settlements with deaf patients raises risk for hospitals
Plaintiffs claimed hospitals did not offer adequate interpreters, other aid. -
ADA requires equal access for deaf patients
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires places of public accommodation, including hospitals, doctors' offices, ambulatory surgery centers, and other healthcare providers, to offer people with disabilities equal access to goods, services, and facilities. -
7 hospital settlements in past year related to hearing
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced recently that, as part of its Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative, over the past year it has reached seven settlements with eight healthcare providers from across the United States to ensure that they are providing effective communication to people who are deaf or have hearing disabilities. -
Settlement cases show how disabled patients can be affected
In the recent settlements regarding discrimination against people with hearing disabilities, the Department of Justice (DOJ) found that at each of the eight facilities, a person who is deaf sought to access healthcare services and was denied a needed sign language interpreter. -
Real-time video monitoring in OR checks safety compliance
A first-of-its-kind video monitoring system used to measure hand-washing compliance at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in Manhasset, NY, is being expanded to include cameras in operating rooms (ORs) at a sister facility, Forest Hills (NY) Hospital. -
'Know Your Physician' program improves care, safety
Patients, family members, and even staff sometimes don't recognize physicians or remember who is caring for which patient, and that issue can compromise patient safety. -
Onus is on you to determine business associates under HIPAA
With more vendors qualifying as business associates under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), some covered entities are wondering just where the responsibility lies for making that determination and ensuring compliance. The consensus is that the healthcare provider must be responsible, partly to protect yourself. -
AACN issues practice alert to manage clinical alarms
A new AACN Practice Alert outlines evidence-based protocols to reduce false or non-actionable alarms and improve the effective use of these monitoring aids. -
FDA cautions on devices connected to health care networks
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently warned healthcare providers to build awareness of the vulnerabilities and risks associated with medical devices being increasingly connected to information systems and networks. -
TN hospitals reduce early elective births 75% in seven months
Hospitals participating in the "Healthy Tennessee Babies are Worth the Wait" partnership reduced preventable early elective deliveries by 75% over seven months, to 3.5% of all births, according to data released recently by the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA). -
Strategies offered for wrong patient med errors
Wrong-patient medication errors occur most often during administration and transcription, but patient safety can be improved by implementing strategies during all phases of the medication process, according to a new report from the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority (PPSA). -
Legal Review & Commentary: Commissioners approve $20 million settlement for boy's brain damage suit against county hospital
Commissioners approve $20 million settlement for boy's brain damage suit against county hospital -
Legal Review & Commentary: Hospital pays $6.5 million to family of man who died of a sodium overdose after being left unattended for 12 hours
Hospital pays $6.5 million to family of man who died of a sodium overdose after being left unattended for 12 hours