June 12th, 2018
According to a recent report by Symantec security firm, a cyber group called Orangeworm has targeted the healthcare industry and is wreaking its havoc across the sector worldwide. The group has been unleashing a malware known as Trojan.Kwampirs to gain remote access and compromise the computer systems of firms in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The purpose of the attacks is believed to be corporate espionage; their victims include healthcare providers, pharmaceutical firms, IT solution providers, and healthcare equipment manufacturers among others. (1)
May 16th, 2018
Nearly 4 out of 5 healthcare providers use a mobile device for professional purposes. These numbers continue to rise as healthcare organizations place an increased focus on efficiency and productivity. (1) Although mobile devices are incredibly efficient and convenient, they also harbor measurable risks for data breach and the exposure of protected health information (PHI).
May 3rd, 2018
The mobile technology revolution has impacted nearly every industry across the globe, with healthcare being no exception. Hospitals, clinics, and providers have all quickly embraced the use of smartphones and other mobile devices along with the convenience of accessing important medical information quickly.
April 11th, 2018
Despite the progress made in patient safety over the years, medical errors are still a significant source of injury and said to be the third cause of death in the US, indicating there is still much work to be done. Continued safety education and awareness on the proper methods, procedures, and processes are vital to ensuring patient safety within hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide.
March 26th, 2018
March 11-17, 2018 was National Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW). This week is about raising awareness of patient safety and best practices among healthcare providers and consumers. It is an ideal time for medical practices and healthcare organizations to celebrate successes and focus on patient safety opportunities. This week MedSafe would like to recognize all of the hardworking patient safety professionals that contribute to advancing patient safety, reducing risk, and maximizing value-based care.
March 6th, 2018
The Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection Control released Ten Top Patient Safety Concerns that should be a priority in 2018, based on research from over the past year. Below is a synopsis of their findings in no particular order:
February 14th, 2018
Another strain of ransomware has wreaked its havoc on the healthcare industry. This time its victims include over 45,000 medical practices and 180,000 physicians that are clients of Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc. Allscripts is a publicly traded American company that provides physician practices, hospitals, and other healthcare providers with practice management and electronic health record technology.
January 25th, 2018
ECRI Institute, a non-profit research organization, recently released its annual Top 10 List of Health Technology Hazards for 2018. The purpose of this report is to inform healthcare facilities about the important safety issues involving the use of health technology and bring attention to potential sources of danger.
January 5th, 2018
With the transition to “value-based care” well underway and healthcare’s shift from volume-based to value-based payment (VBP), significant barriers still remain for many providers while others have become more comfortable with VBP participation.
December 15th, 2017
Earlier this month, CMS delivered its final rule on the Quality Payment Program, starting January 1st, 2018. The following are eight critical points from the Final Rule that you should be aware of:
November 29th, 2017
Data breaches and ransomware attacks are among some of the top challenges that healthcare organizations face today. These issues can lead to extensive damage affecting entire organizations. Whether it is the breach of a patient’s privacy or the disruption of operations across an entire system, just one negative event has the potential to destroy a hospital’s reputation.
November 6th, 2017
The US Consumer Product and Safety Commission is recalling nearly 40 million Kidde-brand fire extinguishers because they may not work in an emergency. The fire extinguishers have been connected to one death, 16 injuries, 391 reports of failure to work properly, and 91 reports of property damage.
October 25th, 2017
More than 77 million individuals in the United States have limited health literacy skills and will likely encounter challenges interpreting and acting upon health information. (2) According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, nine out of ten adults may not have the skills needed to manage their health and prevent disease.
October 9th, 2017
Providing safe and efficient care is a priority for most healthcare organizations. One key component to successfully doing so involves being proactive in preventing issues that may endanger or be unsafe for patients. Below is a list of top patient safety concerns for healthcare organizations in 2017.
September 28th, 2017
As the Quality Payment Program approaches its second year in 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are proposing several changes and updates in an effort to improve patient outcomes, increase coordination of patient care, reduce the burden on small and rural practices, while increasing participation and program flexibility. The goal is to keep what is working with the program and use clinician feedback to improve policies.
August 31st, 2017
A failure to understand HIPAA requirements can be a very costly mistake, as CardioNet learned just a couple months ago. In April, the wireless health services provider agreed to a settlement of $2.5 million for a potential noncompliance with the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules. (1) The violation occurred when a company laptop containing the ePHI of 1,391 individuals was stolen from an employee’s vehicle parked outside their home.
August 10th, 2017
Just a reminder that all eligible healthcare providers that choose to participate in the Quality Payment Program have until October 2, 2017, to begin collecting performance data. All performance data must be submitted by March 31, 2018. For those providers who have not yet decided if they will participate the following are five things to know:
July 26th, 2017
Compliance and ethics are not just legal requirements in healthcare; they are also critical components to safe, quality patient care. Regardless, the size or specialty of the practice or facility, all medical organizations face healthcare compliance concerns.
July 7th, 2017
Medical errors are now the third highest cause of death, accounting for more than 250,000 deaths per year in the US. (1) Second only to heart disease and cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (3) Many believe this estimate is too low and the true number of deaths is around 400,000 per year (2).
June 20th, 2017
Recently the world’s largest cyber-attack unleashed its havoc across 150 countries crippling more than 300,000 victims and hundreds of organizations worldwide. Hospitals, universities, government offices, and large business were among those affected, including sixteen NHS hospitals in the UK. Many of them had to cancel surgeries, appointments, and send patients elsewhere due to the fallout.