The most recent warnings from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) this month concern phishing scams from individuals posing as DEA agents attempting to obtain a physician’s DEA registration number or signature, PHI, social security numbers and even credit card data. Be on guard for suspicious phone calls, faxes or emails. The DEA does not ever […]
It’s Your Call OSHA: Does your office have caution signs? If so, are the signs OSHA compliant? Caution signs are meant to warn against potential hazards like hot surfaces or wet floors. OSHA requires a specific design for these signs. The sigh should have a yellow background and a black panel with yellow letters. Any […]
CNN reports that the United States is in the throes of an opioid epidemic. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, about 11.5 million Americans age 12 and older misused prescription pain medicine in 2016. The International Narcotics Control Board reported that in 2015, Americans represented about 99.7% of the world’s hydrocodone […]
OSHA: Why does the water from the eyewash need to be tepid? OSHA refers to the 2014 ANSI standard Z358.1 which states that the water temperature delivered by emergency equipment should be tepid. Tepid is defined to be between 60°F (16°C) and 100°F (38°C). Citations may be issued under OSHA standard CFR 1910.151 if the drenching/flushing […]
Who would have ever thought that those little, red fire extinguishers, mounted on walls in picture framed boxes, could be deadly? A fire extinguisher is a pressurized vessel that, like any compressed gas, can turn into an exploding bomb due to unsafe storage or handling. No matter how large or small the cylinder, compressed gases […]
Karen Gregory joins Aftermath Services on the Discovery Channel for an episode of Innovations with Ed Begley, Jr.. Innovations is a television show that brings viewers the most current information of leading industries out there making a difference. One of these leaders is Aftermath Services LLC. Aftermath is the premier, nation-wide crime scene clean up […]
Just a reminder to those having a breach in the past year impacting less than 500 individuals, you have until March 1, 2018, to report those breaches to HHS. If you have not already done so, all such breach reporting MUST be sent to HHS no later than this date. If you have a […]
OSHA: Employees have complained about headaches and breathing problems when they work in a specific part of our building. What should I do? Foremost, the complaints should not be ignored. If employees have similar symptoms that appear to resolve after leaving the building or specific work area, then contact a vendor to test indoor air […]
Dealing with a minor’s medical records can be a HIPAA minefield when a child is from a blended family or the parents have a contentious divorce going. This gets especially sticky when you add in stepparents and grandparents and situations where a minor controls all or a portion of their own records. It’s a good […]
Someone called my practice and said I have to fill out their checklist for HIPAA each year. Is this true or is it HIPAA scare tactics? Not Really. You do have to perform a “Risk Analysis” (RA) checklist of all the ways you store, input and transmit protected health information (PHI). This must be done […]
