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Course "Verification vs. Validation - Product Process Software and QMS" has been pre-approved by RAPS as eligible for up to 12 credits towards a participant's RAC recertification upon full completion. Overview: This course will review the company Master Validation Plan for major key inputs and CGMP deficiencies. It will address the FDA's newer and tougher regulatory stance. This course's aim is to prove "Product Risk Based V&V" by sufficient, targeted and documented risk-based V&V test case elements/scripts. It will teach participants to evaluate its elements against ISO 14971 and ICH Q9 for hazard analysis and product risk management. This course will evaluate different field-tested, U.S. FDA-reviewed V&V protocols; how to employ equipment/process Requirements Specs / DQs, IQs, OQs, and PQs, or their equivalents per ASTM E2500, all against a background of limited company resources. It will review a matrix that simplifies "as-product", in-product", process and equipment, et al, software VT&V, to assure key FDA requirements are not overlooked. While considering the QMS and 21 CFR Part 11; this course will make practical application of these same in two hands-on sessions. Why you should attend: This session helps participants: * Understand Verification and Validation, differences and how they work together; * Discuss recent regulatory expectations; * Know how to document a "risk-based" rationale, and use it in a resource-constrained environment; * Determine key "milestones" and "tasks" in a project; * Locate and document key subject "inputs"; * Compile "generic" Master and Individual Validation Plans; * Learn the key element of a Product V&V File/Protocol; * Understand how to develop Process and/or Production/Test Equipment V&V Files/Protocols; * Get a grasp of basic Test Case construction; * Understand sample sizes and their justification; * Learn the key elements of Software V&V expected by the FDA and how to document; * Deal with hardwa

High potency active pharmaceutical ingredients are molecules widely used in the production of hormonal drugs which are used for the treatment of breast cancer. It is also used in the central nervous system drugs, cardiovascular drugs, and musculoskeletal drugs. Moreover, recently they have been also gaining demand in the gynecology & cosmetics industry. These drugs are segmented into innovative and generic. The growing prevalence of cancer is predominantly fueling the growth of the high potency active pharmaceutical ingredients market. The increasing number of the pharmaceutical industry coupled with the growing investment in the research and development activities conducted by the pharmaceutical industry is again contributing to the market growth. Moreover, increasing use of high potency active pharmaceutical ingredients as antibody-drug conjugates as it is one of the most important and effective treatments for cancer is also projected to augment the market growth. It is also used to treat glaucoma which is further anticipated to foster the growth of the high potency active pharmaceutical ingredients market. From the geographical point of view, North America is expected to gain significant growth over the forecast period and this is attributed to the high prevalence of chronic disease in the region. Read more @ https://sachinbhombe.blogspot.com/2021/03/high-potency-active-pharmaceutical.html

Overview: Learn how to improve your healthcare compliance program by using requirements found in corporate integrity agreements (CIAs) issued by the OIG. By proactively incorporating various features of CIAs, healthcare providers of all types can be better assured of meeting compliance standards. While there are many different types of healthcare compliance issues, probably the area of most concern is that of properly filing claims and receiving appropriate reimbursement. The OIG has issued various types of guidance including Federal Register entries, fraud alerts, and issues as listed in the OIG Work Plans. By providing such guidance, the OIG has given healthcare providers notice so that there can be no defense of not knowing about an issue. By organizing your compliance program to detect and then correcting various types of issues is a major objective of having a compliance program. Understanding systematic processes for improving your healthcare compliance program using CIA requirements can forestall possible criminal and civil monetary penalties. The hundreds of CIAs that have been developed when the OIG detects fraudulent activities can be used as a guide for developing and improving healthcare compliance programs for all types of healthcare providers. The process of statistical extrapolation is used by the OIG when conducting studies in order to determine recoupment amounts. Statistical extrapolation can also be used by healthcare providers when determining possible overpayments. However, the proper use of statistical extrapolation is a formal and complex mathematical process that must be properly applied. The OIG CIAs provide another resource for healthcare providers to study, understand, and then apply as appropriate. Why should you Attend: What are the OIG Corporate Integrity Agreements (CIAs)? Why does the OIG issue CIAs? Can I use general requirements from CIA to avoid monetary penalties or even avoid going to jail? Can any healthcare provider use

Overview: In this session we will discuss the HIPAA audit and enforcement programs and how they work, and discuss the areas that caused the most issues in prior audits. We will explore what kind of issues and what kind of entities had the most problems, and show where entities need to improve their compliance the most. We will also explore the typical risk issues that lead to breaches of health information and see how those issues may be a target for auditors in the new 2016 audits. We will review the contents of the HIPAA Audit Protocol used in 2012 to show what documentation needs to be on hand should your organization be selected for an audit in the new round. We will present methods for using the contents of the HIPAA Audit Protocol to build your own compliance plan by extracting and updating the contents and relating your compliance activities directly to the questions that might be asked. In this session we will discuss the HIPAA audit and enforcement regulations and processes, and how they apply to HIPAA covered entities and business associates. We will explain the enforcement regulations and the new, increased fines and new penalty levels, including new penalties for willful neglect of compliance that begin at $10,000. We will discuss what information and documentation must be prepared in advance so that you can be ready for an audit at any time, including sample information request forms and questions asked at prior audits. The session will also cover how to know if you may become the subject of an audit or enforcement action, and what you can do to help limit your exposure. We will discuss how most enforcement actions come about and what can be done to prevent incidents that lead to enforcement activity. The HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification regulations (and the recent changes to them) and how they will be audited will be explained. Documentation requirements for compliance will be explored and a framework of security policies necessary

Overview: Become knowledgeable and understand the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, Physician Self-Referral Law, Excluded Individuals and additional criminal/civil laws that may worsen the punishment if these laws are violated. Understand the criteria of each law, exceptions and how to identify an issue that requires mitigation. Why should you Attend: Are you able to distinguish with certainty an agreement, contract or activity that is permissible versus one that is not under our current healthcare laws and regulations? Do you have a contract organization system where reviews are done regularly and retained centrally? Do you conduct auditing and monitoring of potential high risk compliance areas related to fraud, waste and abuse? If you are uncertain or need additional guidance on recognizing potential violations of healthcare fraud, waste and abuse regulations and how to audit and monitor for non-compliance, this training is for you. Areas Covered in the Session: Define and describe elements of the Anti-kickback Statute, False Claims Act, Exclusionary Rule, Physician Self-Referral Law and potential penalties for violations Discuss exceptions and related criteria to the Physician Self-Referral Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute Identify common potential issues that may result in violations and how to avoid or mitigate them Provide examples on how to comply with the regulations Describe areas to audit, monitor and implement policies/procedures for compliance Who Will Benefit: Health care providers Revenue cycle management employees Coders, Billers Compliance officers Contract management Compliance and Internal Audit professionals Healthcare administrators Speaker Profile Gail Madison Brown is a registered nurse and an attorney with over 25 years of experience in health care. For the last 15 years she has focused on health care compliance and revenue cycle management operations. Gail's experience ranges from starting new compliance programs and making impr

Tynor Wrist Brace with Thumb is created to reinforce, prevent and partially immobilize the wrist and the palm. This wrist brace allows natural and free activity of the fingers. It keeps the affected area compact and maintains the body heat to lessen the local pain inflammation. Its has high quality striped elastic webbing which provides high modulus of elasticity which gives the comfortable feel. It is made from the strong, durable, porous and a comfortable material which remains for a long time. This Wrist Brace provides excellent compressive strength and support to the wrist. Its Hook loop closures allow easy application and removal. It fits comfortably around the wrist and comes in universal sizing. It also has an anatomical thumb opening which fastens the healing process. It keeps the thumb in relaxed and comfortable position. Its extra porous material allows the proper ventilation to the affected skin. Tynor Wrist Brace with Thumb Wrist brace with thumb is designed to support, protect and partially immobilize the wrist and the palm while allowing free and natural movement of the fingers. It compresses the area and retains the body heat to allay local pain and inflammation. Extra grip. Extra porous Controlled compression. Anatomical thumb placement. Tynor Wrist Brace with Thumb Features High quality , striped elastic webbing Strong and durable Porous and comfortable High modulus of elasticity- Retains shape and size for a long time. Excellent compressive strength, better support Hook loop closures Easy to apply and remove Ensures optimal compression Better fitting and universal sizing. Anatomical thumb opening Better pain relief and healing. Thumb in abduction remains relaxed, no fatigue Improves comfort Allows free and natural movement of the thumb and fingers. Tynor Tennis Elbow Support Tennis Elbow Support is designed to help provide relief from generalized pain and tenderness in the forearm and elbow caused by repetitiv

Course "Validation and 21 CFR 11 Compliance of Computer Systems: Intermediate to Advanced" has been pre-approved by RAPS as eligible for up to 12 credits towards a participant's RAC recertification upon full completion. Overview: Computer Systems Validation (CSV) also known as Software Validation is all-pervasive in the Life Sciences Industry. It is a requirement of all the predicate rules, as well as 21 CFR 11 and Annex 11. However, unless one knows how to implement CSV, it is often very hard to detect the requirement for CSV, and very hard to determine what needs to be done, to meet domestic and / or international regulations or business continuity requirements. In addition, the FDA has stepped up 21 CFR 11 inspections that include CSV. This course will build on the Validation and 21 CFR 11 Compliance Basic Course, to give hands on experience on executing on the computer systems validation of a system, and to discuss related activities such as Validation Master Plan, Infrastructure Qualification, Project Management for Validation and Validation of Test Tools The attendees must have attended the Basic Validation & 21 CFR 11 Compliance. This is a very hands-on class and the attendees will be expected to use templates provided in the class to create the complete package for the validation of a system The Seminar: This Hands-On course will provide the attendees with more detailed experience on validation / 21 CFR 11 compliance of a computer system, as well as details for activities associated with computer systems validation as follows: 1. Validation Master Plan 2. Complete Validation for a System 3. Excel Spreadsheet Validation 4. Change Control 5. SOPs 6. Test Tools Validation 7. Project Management for Validation Who Should Attend : * VP of IT * Director of IT * Quality Managers * Project Managers (for CSV / IT) * Validation Specialists * Database Administrators * System Administrators * Directors / Senior Directors of Discovery * Directors /

Course "New HIPAA Audit and Enforcement Activities: Being Prepared to Show your Compliance " has been pre-approved by RAPS as eligible for up to 12 credits towards a participant's RAC recertification upon full completion. Overview: We will be discussing the history and evolution of HIPAA Privacy/Security and the major points you need to understand to proactively protect your practice or business from the imminent federal auditing process: * History of HIPAA * HITECH * HIPAA Omnibus Rule * How to perform a HIPAA Security Risk Assessment * What is involved in a Federal audit and how is it conducted * Risk factors for a federal audit * How to avoid a Federal audit * Business Associates and HIPAA audits * EHR and HIPAA * Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Planning * Assessing your contractors and sub-contractors * In depth discussions on IT down to the nuts and bolts * Risk factors that can cause an audit (low hanging fruit) * New rules which grant states ability to sue citing HIPAA on behalf of a patient * New funding measures Why should you attend : The evolutions of this enigmatic law and how what was once relative benign in terms of enforcement is now fully funded and aggressive. Learn what you can do to be prepared for an audit and how to lower risks of ever being audited. It is absolutely imperative that you are proactive and not reactive with your compliance program, this is a necessary evil and you need to protect your practice or your business and limit risks from the imminent Federal audits. Join me in keeping up with this very confusing law and take advantage of all the templates and information provided as part of the seminar. Areas Covered in the Session: * HIPAA -Brief History * HIPAA Privacy Rule vs HIPAA Security Rule * HITECH Act * Breach Notification Rule * Omnibus Rule and audits * Business Associates and audits * Current Court Cases (precedence) * Paper Based PHI Concerns and how to lower risk

Overview: Final regulations for the new HIPAA Breach Notification Rule require much more than notifying individuals affected by a Breach of their Protected Health Information (PHI). Covered Entities and Business Associates first must follow and document a very specific process to determine if a Breach occurred. If no Breach occurred documentary proof must be kept for six years. If a Breach did occur timely notifications and other actions must be undertaken and documented. This webinar will explain: What Covered Entities and Business Associates must do to comply with the Breach Notification Rule What is and is not a Breach Three exceptions - when an acquisition, access, use, or disclosure of PHI not permitted by the Privacy Rule is not a Breach How to perform a Breach Risk Assessment to determine if you can demonstrate a a low probability that the PHI was compromised Who must be notified in case of a Breach When notifications must be provided What information must be contained in each notification Other requirements in case of a Breach Investigate Mitigate harm to affected individuals Protect against further Breaches Document everything Planning and preparation for the worst - public relations and mitigation strategies to limit damage to the organization's reputation and financial well-being Why should you attend: Breaches and incidents that might be Breaches happen all the time! More than 173,000 separate breaches of Protected Health Information (PHI) affecting less than 500 individuals were reported to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) between September, 2009 and May 31, 2015 and in the same period HHS received approximately 1240 reports of PHI breaches that affected 500 or more individuals An acquisition, access, use, or disclosure of PHI not permitted by the Privacy Rule is presumed to be a Breach unless it falls within an exception or the Covered Entity or Business Associate can demonstrate a low probability that the PHI was compromi

Overview: Participants will understand the importance of responding to the OCR pre-audit requests and how to respond. Our discussion will cover how to prepare for an anticipated OCR HIPAA privacy audit, by discussing how to conduct an internal self-assessment of your privacy program. We will discuss how to conduct the self-assessment, whether it be the need for policies, procedures or obtaining all of your business associates information. Why should you Attend: If you have received a request from the OCR to provide the name of your entities privacy official and additional criteria, you are already aware that you are on the OCR's radar and may be the focus of an audit. If you haven't received a request yet, anticipate receiving one soon. In addition to ensuring that your HIPAA program is audit ready, you also need to ensure that you know all of your business associates and have their information readily available to provide to the OCR. Your entity needs to be ready now, as the OCR will either conduct focused desk audits, on-site audits or both in effort to review documentation of evidence of your compliance with the HIPAA regulation. Areas Covered in the Session: Office of Civil Rights "OCR" requests for privacy official and additional information and timeline for response Internal assessment criteria of privacy program in anticipation of an OCR audit Conducting the assessment using the template based upon HIPAA regulations Discuss methods to address any found deficiencies Workforce training Who Will Benefit: Healthcare providers Compliance and Internal Audit professionals or office staff responsible for ensuring patient privacy Healthcare Administrators Business Associates and all HIPAA Covered Entities Speaker Profile Gail Madison Brown is a registered nurse and an attorney with over 25 years of experience in health care. For the last 15 years she has focused on health care compliance and revenue cycle management operations. Gail's experience ranges

Workplace Safety Regulations : Workplace safety is a matter of grave importance to any organization. Ensuring the safety of workers is a primary goal of most countries, no matter which kind of political system or setup they have. This is because almost no workplace is free from some or another kind of hazard. These workplaces could be as varied as hospitals, construction sites, engineering plants or agriculture and many more. Governments the world over consider it their duty to provide a safe workplace. Workplace safety can concern any hazard that can happen to either the physical or emotional wellbeing of a worker. National and global workplace safety regulations : Workplace safety regulations are legally stipulated measures that governments require organizations in both the private and public sector to implement in order to ensure safety at the workplace. Almost all countries have their own set of workplace safety regulations. These regulations work in tandem with a few global management systems with the aim of enhancing safety standards at the workplace. A notable global organization that is at the forefront of legislating workplace safety regulations is the International Labor Organization (ILO). These ILO-mandated legislations are meant to supplement the national workplace safety regulations that most countries have. This is done in the belief that many a time, these individual legislations may not be sufficient in themselves. Workplace safety regulations in the US : Like most other countries, the US too has its own set of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards. Owing their origins to the Richard Nixon era in late 1970; workplace safety regulations in the US concretized under what is collectively called the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The major feature of OSHA is that apart from promulgating workplace safety regulations across nearly all conceivable sectors and types of industries; OSHA also has a provision for whistleblow

Overview: Participants will learn how to conduct an investigation of allegations of patient privacy violations using a privacy "risk analysis" tool and steps that should be taken when a breach has been determined. Why should you Attend: You must conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of privacy violations. A violation of a patient's privacy may result in monetary penalties, harm to your reputation and especially harm to a patient. You need to make certain your organization has the expertise to conduct a thorough privacy investigation, analyze the results and take all necessary action to mitigate and report violations when required. Areas Covered in the Session: Best practices for conducting a privacy investigation Use of the risk analysis tool Interpretation of your results Reporting requirements if necessary Recommendations of continued privacy monitoring Workforce training Who Will Benefit: Healthcare providers Compliance and Internal Audit professionals or office staff responsible for ensuring patient privacy Healthcare Administrators Business Associates and all HIPAA Covered Entities Speaker Profile : Gail Madison Brown is a registered nurse and an attorney with over 25 years of experience in health care. For the last 15 years she has focused on health care compliance and revenue cycle management operations. Gail's experience ranges from starting new compliance programs and making improvements to existing programs for physician practices to large health care organizations. Gail also has provided numerous lectures to healthcare providers, executives and professional colleagues. Gail Madison Brown will develop, implement, and oversee processes, systems, educational programs, and other activities necessary to support and grow clinical trials activities at the UT Health Science Center. The Chief Clinical Trails Officer (CCTO) provides overall strategic leadership in this area including planning, goal setting, and monitoring organ

Course "The A to Z's of HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules" has been pre-approved by RAPS as eligible for up to 12 credits towards a participant's RAC recertification upon full completion. Overview: This session is designed to provide intensive, two-day training in HIPAA compliance, including what's new in the regulations, what's changed recently, and what needs to be addressed for compliance by covered entities and business associates. The session provides the background and details for any manager of healthcare information privacy and security to know what are the most important privacy and security issues, what needs to be done for HIPAA compliance, and what can happen when compliance is not adequate. Audits and enforcement will be explained, as well as privacy and security breaches and how to prevent them. Numerous references and sample documents will be provided. Who Will Benefit: * Information Security Officers * Risk Managers * Compliance Officers * Privacy Officers * Health Information Managers * Information Technology Managers * Medical Office Managers * Chief Financial Officers * Systems Managers * Legal Counsel * Operations Directors Agenda: Day One Day one sets the stage with an overview of the HIPAA regulations and then continues with presentation of the specifics of the Privacy Rule, recent changes to the rules, and the basics of the Security Rule Lecture 1: Overview of HIPAA Regulations * The Origins and Purposes of HIPAA * Privacy Rule History and Objectives * Security Rule History and Objectives * Breach Notification Requirements, Benefits, and Results Lecture 2: HIPAA Privacy Rule Principles, Policies and Procedures * Patient Rights under HIPAA * Limitations on Uses and Disclosures * Required Policies and Procedures * Training and Documentation Requirements Lecture 3: Recent and Proposed Changes to the HIPAA Rules * New Penalty Structure * New HIPAA Audit Program * New Patient Rights

Course "Supplier Management for Medical Device Manufacturers" has been pre-approved by RAPS as eligible for up to 12 credits towards a participant's RAC recertification upon full completion. Overview: Supplier selection and management is one of the critical issues for medical device manufacturers. Suppliers provide materials and services to the device manufacturer, which means that they can be critical to performance and delivery of your device. Neither the FDA nor your notified body regulates your suppliers (with a few exceptions). They expect you to have an effective process to ensure your suppliers perform in the regulatory environment. How well do you understand the requirements for supplier management? Could you pass a regulatory audit or inspection without any issues? This course delivers the tools, templates, and methods to help participants implement an effective and efficient supplier management program. This two-day hands-on course provides a clear understanding of the underlying principles of supplier management. The course uses exercises to solidify understanding. In addition, the course uses FDA Warning Letters to illustrate the points and help you learn from others. As part of the practical implementation, the course includes receiving acceptance activities, outsourced processes, process validation at the suppliers' location, supplier auditing techniques, and supplier issues in management review. The course uses the Global Harmonization Task Force (GHTF) framework, but expands it to cover other issues and techniques important in effective implementation. Why should you attend: Since FDA regulations do not allow them to audit your suppliers unless they make finished medical devices, they require that you have sufficient control over them. But from time to time the FDA makes a reinterpretation of what this means. This happened within the last f 5 years, so if you supplier management program is older than that, you need to make major changes in you supp

Course "Texting and E-mail with Patients: Patient Requests and Complying with HIPAA " has been pre-approved by RAPS as eligible for up to 12 credits towards a participant's RAC recertification upon full completion. Overview: With the recent advances in portable technology, more and more organizations and their users are taking advantage of mobile devices to save time and get work done more efficiently. Texting, portable e-mail, and Apps are revolutionizing the ways health care providers interact with their patients and get their work done. But the use of these devices comes with hidden costs of compliance, especially if they lead to a reportable breach under HIPAA or state laws. HIPAA Privacy and Security Officers have been struggling to keep up with the use of the devices to protect patient privacy and avoid compliance issues. Even if these devices aren't in formal use in your organization, you need to act now to anticipate their use and make sure they are used properly. This session is designed to provide intensive, two-day training in HIPAA compliance as it relates to the use of mobile devices, including how to use them with Protected Health Information, the policies and procedures you need to have in place to use them securely, and how to manage issues of the "BYOD" phenomenon. The session provides the background and details for any manager of health information privacy and security to know what issues to look for with mobile devices, what needs to be done for HIPAA compliance, and what can happen when compliance is not adequate. Audits and enforcement will be explained, as well as privacy and security breaches and how to prevent them. Numerous references and sample documents will be provided. The session will be valuable for both newcomers to HIPAA compliance as well as seasoned veterans. HIPAA compliance will be explained and discussed in detail, from the basics through the latest changes and new technology issues, so that the attendee will have a coherent u

Overview: New changes modifying the HIPAA Privacy and Security Regulations are going into place to meet the privacy and security mandates within the HITECH Act in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The changes include establishing new rights for individuals as well as changes to the limitations on uses and disclosures. New requirements for patient access to records and requirements to notify individuals in the event of a breach are only two of the many areas affected in the new law, including new requirements for restriction and accounting of disclosures and increased enforcement activity. Covered entities that use electronic health records (EHRs) will need to meet new access and disclosure rules and all kinds of business associates and their subcontractors will need to establish compliance programs. And if you are required to have a HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, you will need to update that to show all the new rights that patients will have, such as electronic copies, new rights to restrict disclosures, and much more. Business associates are now directly covered by the HIPAA privacy and security regulations and are liable for fines and penalties if they do not comply. If a business associate supplies services that interact with the new changes to the rules, the BA will need to be aware of the new requirements. We will explain what a Business Associate needs to do differently under the new regulations. Electronic records have new demands placed on them, in both providing access and in accounting for all disclosures of health information - the electronic age in health care brings new obligations to serve individuals as well as manage health information for healthcare professionals. We will discuss how disclosures must be tracked in an EHR and review the various ways patient records can be supplied electronically. The new regulations will be reviewed and their effects on usual practices will be discussed, as will what policies need to be chang

Overview: With the recent advances in portable technology, more and more organizations and their users are taking advantage of mobile devices to save time and get work done more efficiently. Texting, portable e-mail, and Apps are revolutionizing the ways health care providers interact with their patients and get their work done. But the use of these devices comes with hidden costs of compliance, especially if they lead to a reportable breach under HIPAA or state laws. HIPAA Privacy and Security Officers have been struggling to keep up with the use of the devices to protect patient privacy and avoid compliance issues. Even if these devices aren't in formal use in your organization, you need to act now to anticipate their use and make sure they are used properly. This session is designed to provide intensive, two-day training in HIPAA compliance as it relates to the use of mobile devices, including how to use them with Protected Health Information, the policies and procedures you need to have in place to use them securely, and how to manage issues of the "BYOD" phenomenon. The session provides the background and details for any manager of health information privacy and security to know what issues to look for with mobile devices, what needs to be done for HIPAA compliance, and what can happen when compliance is not adequate. Audits and enforcement will be explained, as well as privacy and security breaches and how to prevent them. Numerous references and sample documents will be provided. The session will be valuable for both newcomers to HIPAA compliance as well as seasoned veterans. HIPAA compliance will be explained and discussed in detail, from the basics through the latest changes and new technology issues, so that the attendee will have a coherent understanding of not only the rules, but also how to think about compliance and make sound compliance decisions on a day-to-day basis in the context of mobile devices. Agenda Day One Day one sets the stage with an ov

Basics of the Anti-Kickback Statute : The Anti-Kickback Statute is aimed at curbing abuse and fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid systems by professionals who offer services and benefit in direct or indirect ways. In order to protect Medicare and Medicaid patients, as well as federal health care programs from abuse and fraud; the Anti-Kickback Statute was enacted. The core act that the Anti-Kickback Statute considered as fraud and abuse is the unlawful acceptance or diversion of money into influencing medical decision-making. The Anti-Kickback Statute is very clear on this. It states that anyone in the healthcare industry, who consciously and deliberately accepts a fee or remuneration of any kind or offers the same with the intention of manipulating the course of a medical decision-making, is liable to punishment. What acts attract penalties? Acts of various kinds attract penalties under the Anti-Kickback Statute. Some of these include: Carrying out advertising or marketing activities for promoting the brand of health care providers Participating in affiliate programs or pay per click commissions Working out promotion agreements with multiple companies Taking part in sponsorships Working out strategic alliances with healthcare providers Licensing content or technology Selling a healthcare provider's brands of products or services Taking a cut in the advertising revenue The nature of penalties under the Anti-Kickback Statute The Anti-Kickback Statute states major penalties for acts it prohibits. The Anti-Kickback Statute prescribes these major penalties: Up to five years in prison This has the potential to attract additional monetary fines of up to $25,000 Administrative civil money penalties that can go up to $50,000 In addition, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) could initiate administrative proceedings and take steps aimed at prohibiting anyone convicted of an Anti-Kickback violation from participating in State and federal programs. The OIG could also impose

Course "Validation and 21 CFR 11 Compliance of Computer Systems: Intermediate to Advanced" has been pre-approved by RAPS as eligible for up to 12 credits towards a participant's RAC recertification upon full completion. Overview: Computer Systems Validation (CSV) also known as Software Validation is all-pervasive in the Life Sciences Industry. It is a requirement of all the predicate rules, as well as 21 CFR 11 and Annex 11. However, unless one knows how to implement CSV, it is often very hard to detect the requirement for CSV, and very hard to determine what needs to be done, to meet domestic and / or international regulations or business continuity requirements. In addition, the FDA has stepped up 21 CFR 11 inspections that include CSV. This course will build on the Validation and 21 CFR 11 Compliance Basic Course, to give hands on experience on executing on the computer systems validation of a system, and to discuss related activities such as Validation Master Plan, Infrastructure Qualification, Project Management for Validation and Validation of Test Tools The attendees must have attended the Basic Validation & 21 CFR 11 Compliance. This is a very hands-on class and the attendees will be expected to use templates provided in the class to create the complete package for the validation of a system The Seminar: This Hands-On course will provide the attendees with more detailed experience on validation / 21 CFR 11 compliance of a computer system, as well as details for activities associated with computer systems validation as follows: 1. Validation Master Plan 2. Complete Validation for a System 3. Excel Spreadsheet Validation 4. Change Control 5. SOPs 6. Test Tools Validation 7. Project Management for Validation Who Should Attend: * VP of IT * Director of IT * Quality Managers * Project Managers (for CSV / IT) * Validation Specialists * Database Administrators * System Administrators * Directors / Senior Directors of Discovery * Directors / Senior

What is Depression? Every individual experiences feelings of worthlessness, sadness, and negativity. It is when these feelings spiral out of control and consume the individual to an extent that his/her normal life is disrupted, that depression arises. Depression is a serious medical condition and can significantly weaken the individual both physically and mentally. What are the causes and risk factors of depression? In medical terms, depression is due to a decreased amount of certain chemicals in the brain. Depression has a genetic basis, i.e. depression may run in family. It can also be triggered by an event such as the loss of a loved one, losing a job, etc. There are some hormonal problems like decreased thyroid levels that can also lead to depression. Depression can also follow after the diagnosis of a serious illness and leads to impaired treatment of the disease. It is accompanied by the feeling of not getting well and hence ignoring the medication and the other activities that have been advised by the doctor. Risk factors Traumatic past, abuse, neglect Loss of a loved one Serious medical conditions like Parkinson's disease, etc. Also Read: How to Prevent Depression in Elderly What are the symptoms of depression? Persisting feeling of sadness, anxiety Low self-esteem Feeling worthless Pessimistic mindset Decreased appetite Difficulty in sleeping Oversleeping Inability to concentrate Talking, walking slowly Constantly feeling tired Loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyable Decreased sexual desire Weight loss Headache Abdominal cramps Having ideas about death, contemplating suicide What are the investigations for depression? As such there are no investigations for depression. If the symptoms listed above continue for more than two weeks, the person is diagnosed with depression. Investigations advised by the doctor can be - Thyroid function tests Cortisol levels in the blood What is the treatment of depression? The treatment is both