Healthcare Risk Management 2012-11-01

Hospitals threatened by theft of radiological material

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued a warning to hospitals about the risk of the theft of radiological materials, which could be used to make a dirty bomb. Experts caution that the presence of radiological materials in a hospital brings a significant obligation to provide security.

GAO finds serious faults with radiological security

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) visited 26 hospitals and other medical facilities to assess compliance with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) requirements for the protection of radiological material, and the report details many problems.

Determine threat — Look for faults in policy and procedure

When protecting a hospital's possible targets, the first step is a threat assessment, says Zachary Goldfarb, EMT-P, CHSP, CHEP, CEM, principal with Incident Management Solutions, a company in Uniondale, NY, that helps hospitals and other organizations prepare for and respond to emergencies.

Flashback: Fake Joint Commission surveyors tried to enter hospitals

In 2005, Healthcare Risk Management reported extensively on a series of suspicious visits to hospitals by people posing as surveyors from The Joint Commission.

Hospital shootings rare but purposeful, study finds

Shootings in U.S. hospitals typically generate widespread media publicity, but the likelihood of being shot in a hospital is less than the chance of getting struck by lightning, according to research at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Depend on security professionals when planning

Hospitals should consult with a certified healthcare security expert in developing a program aimed at deterring shootings or other violence in the facility, says Bryan Warren, CHPA, president of the International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety (IAHSS) and senior manager for corporate security at Carolinas Healthcare System in Charlotte, NC.

Good relations with local police essential to safety

In addition to the all the security precautions a hospital can take in anticipation of a shooting or other emergency, don't forget one important strategy: Get to know the local police.

Hospital's kidney program suspended after botched transplant, investigation

The accidental disposal of a donor kidney has resulted in a hospital suspending its kidney donor program and a review of the hospital's compliance with regulations.

Kidney mistake could lead to lawsuits, attorney says

The mistaken discarding of a donor kidney at the University of Toledo Medical Center in Ohio could lead to lawsuits but definitely should prompt the hospital to reassess the procedures that led to the mistake, says Karl J. Protil Jr., JD, equity shareholder with the law firm of Shulman Rogers Gandal Pordy Ecker in Potomac, MD.

$2.1M verdict handed down in peer review hearing case

A $2.1 million jury verdict against Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center for unfair privilege suspension of a doctor in a hospital peer review hearing is believed to be one of the largest jury awards in a peer review hearing case.

Patient safety project reduces central line infections by 40%

A unique nationwide patient safety project funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reduced the rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in intensive care units by 40%, according to the agency's preliminary findings of the largest national effort to combat CLABSIs to date.

IOM calls for more technology in healthcare

Technology hold the keys to addressing an increasingly complicated healthcare system plagued by inefficiency, high costs, and poor quality, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) said in a recent report.

Supportive hospitals help nurses catch more mistakes

Nurses are more likely to catch medical errors in supportive hospitals, according to a recent study.

Legal Review & Commentary: Jury slaps hospital with $103 million verdict for premature delivery of now brain-damaged child

On Aug. 24, 2012, a jury awarded the family of a 17-year-old girl with cerebral palsy upward of $100 million in damages and found that the birth hospital's negligence in caring for her pregnant mother caused premature birth and permanent brain injuries.

Legal Review & Commentary: Hospital medication errors causes drug reaction that is nearly lethal — $121 million verdict awarded

When seeking treatment for seizures, a woman wound up permanently disabled by an extreme and potentially fatal allergic reaction to prescribed medications. In a malpractice action brought on her behalf by her mother, three hospitals were found guilty of mismanaging the woman's medications, failing to properly respond to her symptoms, and failing to provide the treatment necessary to prevent permanent damage.

HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Meaningful use Stage 2 final rule released

An extra year to prepare to meet meaningful use requirements was welcome news with the release of the 2012 final rule for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Electronic Health Record Incentive Program (meaningful use).

HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Encourage use of patient portals for compliance

Meeting the Stage 2 meaningful use requirement that 5% of patients access their health information online to view, download, or transmit information requires more planning than just providing a patient portal, says Shane Pilcher, FHIMSS, vice president of Stoltenberg Consulting, a healthcare information technology consulting firm in Bethel Park, PA.