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It is important to ensure food safety in hospitals Hospitals being what they are - where patients of almost all kinds visit or stay - are very potent sources of infection. Infection can arise from any part of the hospital. They can spread from patients to patients, from caregivers to patients, from patients to caregivers, from patients to support or administrative staff and vice versa, and so on. An often overlooked source of infection and contamination is the food that comes into hospitals. Food safety in hospitals is a very important element of hygiene First, an understanding of food safety in the context of hospitals is necessary. Food safety in hospitals is described as the scientific way by which food is prepared, handled and stored in hospital settings. Any food that is prepared in hospital kitchens are, like food prepared in other places such as canteens, hotels and restaurants and even homes, sourced from outside. This food comes from suppliers whose hygiene has to be ensured. Food hazards can come in many forms, including, but not limited to: Biological Chemical Physical Allergenic Hazards an Several other contributing factors It is in the process of procuring materials for food and preparing it in hospital kitchens that a major part of food safety in hospitals is compromised. There has to be a thorough mechanism to ensure that all these producers and suppliers follow regulatory requirements in ensuring that the food they produce and supply to hospitals is clean and safe. Literally thousands of patients get infected from over 250 kinds of bacteria, parasites and viruses when they consume food prepared in hospitals. Findings of a recent study It is pertinent to recall the findings of study done in May 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland. It carried out an examination of chicken supplied to and prepared in a hospital in this city. An astounding four fifths of these chickens were known to have been infected with E.coli, leading to its possible transmission to pati

Overview: I will be talking to specifics of HIPAA in the hospital setting, , do's and don'ts as well as dispelling myth vs reality. This lesson will be addressing how compliance officers need to get their HIPAA house in order as HIPAA is now fully enforced and the government is not using kid gloves any more. It will also address major changes under the Omnibus Rule and any other applicable updates for 2016 and beyond. There are an enormous amount of issues and risks for hospitals these days especially with the new legislation involving patient cash remedies for wrongful disclosure. I will speak on specific experiences from over 17 years of experience in working as an outsourced compliance auditor, expert witness on HIPAA cases within the hospital setting, ER setting, and thoroughly explain how patients are now able to get cash remedies for wrongful disclosures of private health information. More importantly I will show you how to limit those risks by simply taking proactive steps and utilizing best practices. Why should you Attend: What can and can't we do in the hospital setting with patient information? What are the new liabilities involved? How can we ensure security but also ensure patient care? This once rarely enforced law has changed and you need to know what's going on! - there are new liabilities! What factors might spurn a HIPAA audit? …are you doing these things? Why are the Feds strictly enforcing after all these years? State laws are now much tougher increasing liability for patient remedies! We will be discussing some of the changes taking place in Washington with the Health and Human Services in regards to the enforcement of the HIPAA laws already on the books. I will go over some of the new changes specifically affecting the hospital as well as the emergency room setting I will also be discussing factors might cause an unwanted visit or letter from the Office of Civil Rights and how to prepare for a potential audit Areas Covered in the Sessi

Setting up a compliance program in healthcare: Organizations that set up a compliance program in healthcare should go by many voluntary regulations from the OIG, apart from those mandated by HIPAA. Setting up a compliance program in healthcare is about being compliant with standards. This entails having to be compliant with several standards, which cover a wide variety of areas. There are several voluntary and mandatory guidelines from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), apart from standards from HIPAA. Setting up a compliance program in healthcare meeting HIPAA requirements is set out and mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Guidelines from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) The series of compliance program guidance documents from the OIG are largely voluntary, and are meant for the different sections of the health care industry. These include Hospitals Nursing homes Third-party billers, and Durable medical equipment suppliers. These guidelines are issued with the intention of motivating healthcare units to develop and use their own internal controls aimed at helping them adhere to regulations, program requirements and statutes. The OIG issues documents, which act as guidelines for setting up a compliance program in healthcare by providing principles. These need to be adapted when healthcare organizations have to develop their own compliance program that is in tune with their best interests and needs. Another major aim is served in the implementation of these guidelines for setting up a compliance program in healthcare: They help healthcare units to understand the nature of fraud and other risks associated with abuse, when they are setting up a compliance program for their healthcare unit. HIPAA requirements Setting up a compliance program in healthcare while being compliant with HIPAA regulationsrequires a healthcare organization to put in place measures that ensure that health records must: Be confident

Healthcare Rehabilitation is a vast field: The field of healthcare rehabilitation is very vast and expansive. In traditional societies, most commonly relatable to the Orient and Africa, there is the ages-old cultural belief that it is the duty of children to take care of their parents when they age. On the contrary, for us in the west, healthcare rehabilitation has emerged as a specialized branch of healthcare because of the emphasis our society places on independence of the individual. Healthcare rehabilitation is a product of social mores: Younger generations of people are not expected to spend entire years, as may be the case in some families, to look after people of their previous generations who may be in need of medical care. It is on this outlook towards life of our society that healthcare rehabilitation has come into being. However, it is also possible that younger people could also be in need of healthcare rehabilitation. Even such people are put in the care of healthcare providers which offer these services. The divisions of healthcare rehabilitation: Branching out as a fully developed field of healthcare, healthcare rehabilitation has many specializations. These are broadly the areas in which healthcare rehabilitation is offered: General rehabilitation: General rehabilitation of some or another kind is a primary aspect of healthcare rehabilitation. Those in need of this kind of care typically include patients who have lost their ability to carry out day-to-day tasks such as talking, walking, brushing, eating, etc. many a time, depending on the nature of the ailment, rehabilitation could include therapies, exercises and other activities aimed at bringing in some element of mobility in the patient. This kind of healthcare rehabilitation could also include taking care to revive the patient's memory, when patients with diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's are admitted for healthcare rehabilitation. Skilled nursing: An area in which a skilled and

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

Elements of an efficient Healthcare computer system implementation Healthcare computer system implementation lies at the heart of a healthcare delivery information system. The processing and dissemination of information in extremely quick time is indispensable to healthcare, given the number of processes that go into the healthcare information system, and the improvement in care this can bring about. A healthcare computer system, which can be described as the ecosystem of a healthcare delivery information system, is thus a critical component, because this healthcare computer system implementation is what decides between the efficiency of a healthcare information system and lack of it. A healthcare computer system implementation should cover all the core areas that are part of a healthcare delivery information system, such as the patient, the caregiver, the medical records concerning the patient, the healthcare organization, and other aspects of administration, such as admission, billing and so on. What goes into an efficient healthcare computer system implementation? An efficient healthcare computer system implementation consists of taking into account all the major elements of a healthcare delivery information system. It should have the ability to synchronize, coordinate and integrate vital data from across departments and systems. An efficient healthcare computer system implementation should also take into account the technologies that go into them. Technologies keep changing rapidly. New ones come into being and render the old ones obsolete in no time. A healthcare computer system implementation has to take into account the nature of these changes, and should implement them in quick time. Technologies and technological tools that are doing the rounds today include the cloud, mobile technologies and the social media. So, a healthcare computer system implementation has to integrate these. In the particular context of the American healthcare system, healthca

Overview: Joint Commission standards set a high bar for hospital medical staff bylaws. Since the 2011 changes to MS 01.01.01, bylaws must meet 37 elements of performance including hearing provisions, credentialing requirements, department director duties and more. But don't stop there-additional requirements are scattered through other Joint Commission standards. Each standard, element of performance and their quirks will be addressed and means of compliance explored. Why should you Attend: Joint Commission accreditation, sought by the overwhelming majority of American hospitals, hinges upon compliance with the Standards and their Elements of Performance set forth in the Joint Commission Accreditation Manual for Hospitals. Some of the most complex, detailed standards involve medical staff bylaws provisions and processes. Federal legal requirements change frequently in ways that unexpectedly affect these Joint Commission standards. This webinar addresses the most up -to-date Joint Commission requirements and industry best practices for medical staff bylaws compliance. Areas Covered in the Session: Joint Commission Standards for Hospitals Medical Staff Bylaws Hospital accreditation requirements Who Will Benefit: Medical Staff President Bylaws Committee Chair Chief Medical Officer Vice President of Medical Affairs Chief of Staff Director of Medical Staff Medical Staff Attorney Hospital Counsel Medical Staff Manager Speaker Profile Elizabeth A. Snelson represents medical staffs across the country, focusing on medical staff bylaws, and works for medical societies on medical staff issues. A frequent speaker on medical staff legal issues, Ms Snelson presents at medical staff leadership retreats, and in programs sponsored by state medical staff services associations and medical societies, the American Medical Association, the American Bar Association, and other organizations. She is Past President of the American Society of Medical Association Counsel, Vice Presi

Ensuring Patient Safety in Surgical Environments is Critical for Healthcare Providers A critical component of patient safety relates to surgical environments. Surgical theaters are prone to causing a high degree of harm. This can be from a number of sources. Patient safety in surgical environments can be from any microbe or fungus in any of the accessories used during surgery, such as ECG machine, the echo machine, or other related ones. A host of external factors can impinge upon patient safety in surgical environments Patient safety in surgical environments can also be compromised on account of the use of infected items such as swabs, sponges, knives, forceps, needles, catheters, tubes or any other such accessories or instruments. Patient safety in surgical environments can also get affected by the presence of microscopic allergens and molds in any bedding or clothing item. Even germs transmitted from the caregivers can be a source of lack of patient safety in surgical environments. Another major source where patient safety in surgical environments can suffer is when items are left behind in patients��� bodies by the surgeon. There have been innumerable cases of entire surgical items being left behind in the patient, even in the best hospitals, when surgery is performed by the best surgeons. Get a proper understanding of the underlying causes What do all these point to? These point to the fact that all the factors mentioned above are manmade and are preventable. So, understanding the root of the problem is the key to ensuring patient safety in surgical environments. East and west carry differences Any approach to a solution for ensuring patient safety in surgical environments has to start with the understanding that different healthcare and surgical environments exist in different parts of the world. A surgical environment in Germany for instance is vastly different from that in say, Ghana. So, an individualized approach is what is needed. It is to be note

The cancer diagnostics market is on the verge of explosion, as the researchers approach major technological breakthroughs in tumor diagnosis and therapy, discover new specific antigens, and unlock the mystery of the genetic basis of the disease.

"Bacterial Partnering Terms and Agreements"provides a detailed understanding and analysis of how and why companies enter bacterial partnering deals. The majority of deals are discovery or development stage whereby the licensee obtains a right or an option right to license the licensors bacterial technology.

Drug rehab programs are located throughout the country from Alaska to Florida and California to Maine. You will discover many of the drug treatment centers operate totally independently from any major hospital…

Overview: In 2013, The US Department of Health and Human Services made major changes to rules implementing The Health Insurance and Portability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2003 (HITECH). Among the many areas impacted by these rules (billing, marketing, research, IT security, etc.) is fund raising. The amendments significantly modify the methods and practice that hospitals, their institutionally related foundations, and other healthcare charities may or must employ when using ANY patient or client information for fund raising. The webinar will cover how to effectively implement the fund raising regulations in a manner that increases both opportunities for philanthropic support and compliant implementation of the new mandates. The rules include specific operational requirements, some of which prohibit protocols that were required under the original HIPAA regulations. The "magic words" mandated by HIPPA-related regulations changed in multiple areas. The webinar will cover all of these areas to ensure your organization is both legally compliant and operationally effective. The types of information that may be used for fund raising changed significantly. This presents numerous substantial fund raising opportunities, as well as challenges on the use and storage of such information. Among other areas to be presented are The required method for individuals to opt-out of receiving fund raising communication The methods of informing patients and clients of their right to opt-out from receiving fund raising communication The broadly expanded types of fund raising communication subject to opt-out rights How providers, hospital, and related fund raising foundation apply an opt-out election by an individual The type of patient and client information that health charities may use for fund raising The contents of provider's Notice of Privacy Practice How clinicians can assist both their patients/clients and the

Overview: One of the major requirements of the health care organization to be HIPAA compliant is to develop and implement a set of HIPAA privacy and security policies and procedures. This can be a daunting task for those not knowing where to start and what a set of HIPAA privacy and security policies and procedures should look like. For the cost conscious health care organization, the HIPAA policies and procedures can have multiple uses: first, they can become a basis for training the health care organization workforce; second, they can be used as a basis for conducting a HIPAA self-assessment; and third, they can be used to demonstrate due diligence should there be a breach or an externalHIPAA compliance audit. In today's world it is not necessary that the health care organization spend significant funds to develop a set of HIPAA privacy and security policies and procedures from scratch. The health care organization can likely find templates on the internet that can be used as a starting point to customize HIPAA policies and procedures to be unique for the health care organization. The preparation of a well-documented set of HIPAA policies and procedures needs to be addressed through the development of Privacy and Security policies and procedures that address each of the requirements shown in the HIPAA regulations as amended by the HITECH law and the final Omnibus Regulations. The process of developing the HIPAA privacy and security policies and procedures also provides a reference for the health care organization how to consider the security addressable and required regulation requirements. Why should you attend: There are three situations where having a set of HIPAA policies and procedures are needed: First, the policies and procedures become a good reference to ensure that all areas are addressed for becoming HIPAA compliant. Second, the HIPAA regulations REQUIRE covered entities and business associates to have a set of policies and procedures directing t

Clinical information: Clinical informatics is the new exciting kid on the block. With the right mix of aptitude and attitude, professionals can look forward to many opportunities and challenges in the field. An understanding of the coining of the term "clinical informatics" gives an idea of what it is. Clinical informatics is a combination of two words, "clinical" and "informatics". Together, these relate to the knowledge of how information technology works in the healthcare sector. It is very important for clinicians to understand the functioning of IT into its domain, because with the advent of IT; there has been a major need to integrate clinical practices with it. A clinician who understands the way IT impacts the workings on in her industry is a better equipped professional when it comes to handling IT-related issues in the clinical setting. A clinical informatics professional should have a clear idea of the following approaches to IT: Analysis Design Implementation Assessment of information and communication that enhance the quality of clinical informatics Single approach to multiple health areas: One important element that needs to be understood about clinical informatics is that given the scope and breadth of the area of clinical informatics; professionals from any discipline of health -be it pathology, pharmacy, dentistry, radiology, dermatology, etc. -apply the same principles of clinical informatics to optimize the use of IT in healthcare. This requires constant coordination and cooperation with professionals and practitioners of all these areas. Clinical informatics is thus an area which is interspersed with all these other specializations and can be used and applied in any of these areas. What should a clinical informatics professional ensure? The aim of clinical informatics is to use this discipline to coordinate with nearly all the areas of medicine to provide optimal outcomes in patient care that delivers and ens

Overview: Hospital chargemasters are complex and represent a key component for the revenue cycle of hospitals. Chargemasters are intertwined with coding for services, billing for services, charging for services and even involve the cost reporting process. A myriad of decisions must be made concerning how the chargemaster is organized, impacts on coding and billing, charge structuring, cost accounting, and other processes within the revenue cycle. Whenever decisions are made, policies and procedures should be developed, approved and implemented. A proper system of billing and chargemaster policies and procedures can help to maintain an appropriate compliance stance in a world where ambiguous guidance is often the norm. The development of charges and charge structuring within the chargemaster is a major issue often referred to as transparent pricing. While even the Medicare program maintains that hospitals should charge for everything, the way in which charges are set and amalgamated at the claim level can vary significantly between hospitals. A key issue for the chargemaster is differentiating separately charging from separately reporting. The way in which hospitals make decisions about the bundling of charges at the line-item level within the chargemaster leads to many decisions, all of which need justification through proper policies and procedures. Due consideration must be given to departmental concerns about revenue generation, cost reporting implications, coding implications and any associate challenges with billing and claims filing. Why should you Attend: See Typical Questions - Here are some reworded marketing questions: Why are the chargemaster and hospital billing targets of compliance audits? How should we prioritize statutory and contractual compliance for the chargemaster and billing process? Will chargemaster and associated billing policies and procedures give us protection relative to compliance? How should we develop a system of chargemaster po

Our medical billers and coders stationed in New Jersey, provide physicians with the latest in reimbursement strategies and government updates in terms of the healthcare industry. Their presence across all major cities such as Newark, Jersey City, Patterson, Elizabeth and Edison offer Physicians options to locate well trained Medical Billers and coders easily.