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FDA: Eye Injuries Increasing Because of Alcohol Hand Rubs

Although a key infection control intervention, the ubiquitous presence of alcohol-based hand hygiene dispensers has led to an increase in people reporting severe eye irritations and injuries.

CDC Urges Pregnant Women to Get Vaccinated

Despite the risk of severe disease and death, about two-thirds of pregnant women are not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Temperature and Symptom Check Rarely Prevents Presenteeism

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a common ritual at hospital entry for healthcare workers is undergoing a temperature and/or symptoms check upon arriving for their shift. The problem is it rarely works.

Genetic Research Suggests a ‘Superspreader’ in Provincetown

Was the large COVID-19 outbreak in Provincetown, MA, in July 2021 a superspreader event? The question remains inconclusive, but genetic evidence in new preprint research strongly signals a superspreader type event.

CMS Warned of Mandate’s Threat to Long-Term Care, Rural Sites

Even healthcare workers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 voluntarily warn of the unintended consequences of a federal vaccine mandate, particularly to long-term care and rural facilities already hit hard by the pandemic.

CMS Issues Mandatory Vaccine Rule for Healthcare Workers

While emphasizing the national threat of the pandemic and the safety and efficacy of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services came down to one bedrock reason healthcare workers now face mandated immunization: their ethical duty to protect patients.

Infection Preventionists Experiencing Burnout, Moral Injury Amid Pandemic

Infection preventionists (IPs) are suffering along with their coworkers as an epidemic of burnout and job turnover roils the healthcare system amid an ongoing pandemic. According to a survey in press by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, 70% of IPs meet the criteria for “high stress” and 65% show symptoms of burnout.

HIPAA Relevance to COVID-19 Vaccinations Can Be Misunderstood

Employees and employers frequently believe HIPAA comes into play when asking about an individual’s vaccination status. It almost always does not. Although some states are considering legislation designating vaccination status as a separate protected class, private employers generally are free to ask employees about their vaccination status without running afoul of HIPAA or federal employment laws.

HIPAA Changes Coming in 2022 Might Require Policy Revisions

Proposed changes to HIPAA and HITECH may affect covered entities and business associates in 2022. Now is the time to consider any effects, and respond accordingly. The modifications could require updates to policies and procedures, notices of privacy practices, forms, business associate agreements, and other HIPAA-related compliance issues.

Birth Injury Suit Defense Verdict Upheld in Favor of Physician and Practice Group

Lessons from this case on the law may be unique to this state, but it demonstrates the importance of reviewing a physician or care provider’s applicable laws for any such special protections. In a different state, the outcome here could have been dramatically different: The physician was negligent and the patient was injured, which could have resulted in a jury awarding millions of dollars for lifelong injuries requiring ongoing medical care. But here, the negligent physician was protected by the state law.