Hospital
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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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Scientists Warn Pandemic May Not Decline in Warmer Weather
Seasonal influenza and common human coronaviruses typically fall off in warmer seasons, as heat and humidity diminish transmission sharply. There has been some hope that this will happen with COVID-19, giving the United States a summer respite against a relentlessly accelerating pandemic.
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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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OSHA Tells Inspectors to Use Discretion in Enforcing Respirator Fit-Testing
Responding to respirator shortages during the outbreak of novel coronavirus, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a memorandum allowing enforcement discretion” by compliance officers citing the Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR § 1910.134).
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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.
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C. difficile Infections Decrease in Hospitals, But Increase in Community
Clostridioides difficile infections are declining in U.S. hospitals, as measures over the last decade to reign in antibiotic use and improve infection control appear to be working.