Hospital
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Tracking Tool on Hospital Websites Can Lead to HIPAA Breaches
Many hospital websites include a tracking tool that collects protected health information and sends it to Facebook, posing the risk of major HIPAA breaches. In some cases, the hospital leadership has no idea such a tracking tool is on their website. The tracker automatically sends Facebook a packet of data when a consumer schedules a doctor’s appointment on the website.
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Staffing Shortages Could Increase Liability Risks
Staffing shortages can cause a wide range of problems within a healthcare facility. Most of those issues can lead to greater liability risks. Risk managers are struggling to alleviate those risks even as the staffing challenge gets progressively worse. -
OCR Releases Guidance on Audio-Only Telehealth
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently issued guidance on how covered entities can use audio-only telehealth services in compliance with HIPAA. In line with what is referred to as the common carrier exception, OCR clarified the Security Rule does not apply to audio-only telehealth services provided by a covered entity that is using a standard landline.
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U.S. Becoming Epicenter of Monkeypox Outbreak
The United States has had the most reported monkeypox cases of any country in world, with 10,392 cases as of Aug. 10, 2022. The next closest nation is Spain, with 5,162 cases.
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Ten Percent of CRE Found in the Community
In a disturbing sign, a formidable superbug has left the hospital and appears to be spreading in the community in the absence of healthcare contact.
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Establishing a Hand Hygiene Culture of Accountability
A hospital established a “culture of accountability” by identifying and removing barriers to hand hygiene, one of which was the hesitancy to remind coworkers they need to wash their hands.
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Feds Order Bivalent Vaccines with Omicron
The Biden administration is securing orders for bivalent vaccines that are expected to combine the original Wuhan strain with omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
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IP ‘Ambassadors’ Extend Program’s Pandemic Reach
Some infection preventionists have extended their reach by recruiting infection control champions or ambassadors to keep their colleagues updated on the ongoing changes and recommendations in the pandemic response.
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Vaccinate Children Against MIS-C, a Serious Post-COVID Syndrome
COVID-19 vaccination can greatly reduce multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, a rare but serious complication associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, researchers are finding.
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IPs Rally Forward at APIC 2022
Infection preventionists experienced exhaustion and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, at the 2022 conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, they were urged to stay connected and strong.