OSHA: Warmer weather is here, and administrative employees often inquire about the rules for wearing open-toed shoes. What is OSHA’s view? In general, there is no OSHA policy about wearing open-toed shoes in an office environment. However, OSHA Rule 1910.136(a) states: The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in […]
Until recent years the risk of being exposed to measles was not the first illnesses to come to mind when considering the risk of disease transmission from patients to healthcare workers. Even now there are reported outbreaks in many states of both measles and mumps. One can no longer be confident that during the delivery […]
It’s a busy world out there and it can be tough to keep up on all the news. Here are three compliance-related news stories to keep you “in the know.” Alexa is getting a HIPAA upgrade Alexa the voice-controlled digital assistant from Amazon, is commonly used for home automation, entertainment streaming, and various administrative functions, […]
OSHA: What documentation is required for OSHA training, and how long should the records be kept? Documentation should be kept for 3 years. It should contain a record of training dates, the contents or a summary of the training sessions, the names and job titles of all persons attending the training, and the names and […]
In any OSHA inspection, the inspector will always check out your basic safety on electrical hazards. There are three reasons why OSHA will always pay attention to electrical safety during inspections AND why any electrical citations will always be considered a serious violation and carry a fine. Electrical shock can be fatal. According to OSHA, […]
Instrument Preparation, Packaging Loading Last month we focused on the cleaning process and the importance of ensuring instruments are adequately cleaned prior to packaging. Before we pick up where we left off, remember that instruments should be visually inspected for cleanliness and completely dry before they are wrapped or placed in a sterilization pouch. Packaging […]
OSHA: What is the name of the Hepatitis B 2-dose vaccine? What is the time frame for the doses to be administered? The 2-dose vaccine for Hepatitis B is called Heplisav-B (HepB-CpG). The doses should be administered 4 weeks apart followed by a titer 1-2 months after the second dose. Pregnant women should continue to […]
It’s your call OSHA: We recently hired a new clinical worker who received a 2-dose series for Hepatitis B and titer. Is there really a 2-dose series? Yes. Early in 2018, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended Heplisav-B (HepB-CpG) for vaccination against Hepatitis B for those who are ≥ 18 years. The doses […]
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) CMS-0055-P that was recently published in the Federal Register. This NPRM proposes to modify the requirements for the use of the Telecommunication Standard Implementation Guide, Version D, Release 0 (Version D.0), August 2007, National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) […]
Recently I had a very frustrating visit with my doctor. As an educator with an expertise in HIPAA law it is difficult when I run headlong into someone who adamantly believes incorrect information. I hear this often from my clients too when they are dealing with other healthcare offices. It is not surprising. HIPAA is […]
