Browse Healthcare Risk Management Articles by Topic

Anthem refuses audit by Office of Inspector General before and after massive HIPAA breach

After all the negative press that Anthem suffered when reporting a HIPAA breach that affected 80 million customers, one might think they would avoid more bad publicity. But the health insurer is under fire for refusing to let the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the agency overseeing the federal employee health benefits program, audit its IT security.

Good computer logs critical to detecting breach

A detailed record of who accessed data, when, and how often might be the only way an organization can trace the source of a HIPAA breach.

Blue Cross Blue Shield employees charged with taking and sharing data screen shots

Eleven people have been charged after a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) employee allegedly printed and shared screen shots of more than 5,000 subscriber profiles. The 11 people are charged with identity theft and credit card fraud, in what some observers are calling an example of how criminals can get past even the best HIPAA security measures.

Med mal reform not lowering healthcare costs

Two papers co-authored by a University of Illinois expert in the regulation and financing of healthcare conclude that tort reform has had relatively little impact on the U.S. healthcare system.

Huge increase in hacking of computer systems

Hackers are stealing data from providers at an astounding rate, which reflects the fact that information from healthcare records are worth far more on the black market than credit card numbers.

$8.5 million verdict is first for concierge medicine

A Palm Beach County, FL, jury recently returned an $8.5 million malpractice verdict against MDVIP, the nation’s largest concierge medicine practice company, which has 784 affiliated physicians in 41 states. The award is the first against MDVIP, and it is believed to be the first malpractice award against any concierge management firm.

Hospital reduces falls 75% with bundle of strategies

A hospital is reporting a 75% reduction in falls through the use of a performance improvement team. The team uses a “bundle” of strategies to reduce falls.

Experts warn: Patient passports need review by risk management department

Patient passports are gaining in popularity, but risk managers should consider legal and documentation issues. The patient passport is a document that covers basic patient data. A key question is whether the passport becomes part of the medical record.

Ebola lawsuit claims nurse was thrust into danger without proper training

The Kafkaesque story told in the lawsuit filed by nurse Nina Pham features a woman who innocently shows up for work one day and finds herself trapped in a nightmare, betrayed by those she trusted to protect her.

$21.9 M award in elective steroid injection procedure

A 54-year-old woman suffered from chronic and severe back pain, and she underwent an elective epidural steroid injection. While sedated, the patient’s airway became blocked, which resulted in oxygen deprivation for as long as 10 minutes. Multiple electronic monitors indicated that the patient was not breathing properly, but the physician continued the procedure. Emergency assistance was not called for more than an hour, and the physician failed to report to a subsequent treating hospital that the patient was deprived of oxygen for several minutes. The patient suffered severe brain damage, and she died six years after the procedure from complications related to the brain injury. The jury awarded the widower and estate $21.9 million in damages.