It’s Your Call – December 2024

HIPAA: Does the new reproductive health care ruling require a change to the Notice of Privacy Practices?

HIPAA: Does the new reproductive health care ruling require a change to the Notice of Privacy Practices? A: Yes, the new ruling does require changes to the Notice of Privacy Practices. However, due to the second ruling concerning Substance Use Disorder Treatment records, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the compliance […]

Compliance with HIPAA’s Final Privacy Rule for Reproductive Health Care, Deadline Approaching: December 23, 2024

reproductive health care deadline December 2024

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued the Final Privacy Rule to support reproductive health care and the protection of related health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This amendment was designed to strengthen privacy and security for individuals seeking reproductive health care.  Other than Notice of […]

Clean Hands, Healthy Holidays: Protect Loved Ones from Illness with Effective Hand Hygiene

With the upcoming holidays and many family gatherings, one of the most important ways to protect yourself and loved ones is performing frequent hand hygiene. Good hand hygiene protects against sickness and disease such as the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, and other respiratory illnesses. Hand hygiene has been known to be the single […]

Have a SAFE Holiday Season! from our OSHA expert

Holiday decorating is a wonderful way to embrace the festive spirit, but staying mindful of safety is essential. Emergency rooms treat thousands of injuries related to decorating accidents each holiday season. Last year alone, fire departments responded to 835 home structure fires caused by holiday decorations, resulting in 3 civilian deaths, 30 injuries, and $14 […]

Empowering Your Workplace: New Courses for Safety, Compliance, and Cybersecurity

new courses for compliance

In today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, staying informed and prepared is more crucial than ever. To meet the diverse needs of organizations and their staff, we are excited to introduce a selection of new courses designed to enhance safety, compliance, and overall workplace effectiveness. From cybersecurity awareness to infection control in dental settings, these courses […]

Your Employee Had a Needlestick Exposure – What Do You Do?

needlestick exposure

What do you do when an employee has a needlestick exposure? STEP 1 – ARRANGE FOR AN IMMEDIATE MEDICAL EVALUATION The EMPLOYER is required to offer confidential medical evaluation, laboratory testing, and follow-up care at no expense to the employee. Early intervention is essential for effectively managing potential illness and preventing the transmission of bloodborne […]

It’s Your Call – November 2024

HIPAA: How does ransomware spread? Ransomware commonly spreads through phishing emails, malicious attachments, or compromised websites. Once a user clicks on a link or downloads infected content, the ransomware installs itself on the device, often spreading across the network to other systems. OSHA: What should an employer do immediately after an employee reports a needlestick […]

Discover TMC’s Latest Online Course Offerings

new courses for compliance

Total Medical Compliance is excited to announce the launch of its new suite of online courses designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of healthcare professionals. These courses address crucial aspects of healthcare operations, from ethical business practices and the appropriate use of company assets to maintaining physical security and managing disruptive patients. Each course […]

Instrument Processing Essentials: Steps for Effective Cleaning and Safe Packaging

Instrument Processing Essentials: Steps for Effective Cleaning & Safe Packaging

Medical and dental instrument processing is a critical aspect of employee and patient safety and requires a series of steps. There are four steps in instrument processing: cleaning, packaging, sterilization, and storage. This article will concentrate on cleaning and packaging. We will cover sterilization and storage next month. Step 1: Cleaning Instruments Before any instrument […]

OCR’s Expectations for Preventing Ransomware in Healthcare

Ransomware and cybersecurity in healthcare

Key Lessons from the Cascade Eye and Skin Centers Settlement The recent settlement between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Cascade Eye and Skin Centers underscores OCR’s expectations for healthcare providers regarding cybersecurity under the HIPAA Security Rule. Following a ransomware attack that compromised nearly 291,000 […]