Everything you wanted to know about the OCR Cloud Computing Guidance but were afraid to ask What exactly is the cloud? The cloud is a network of servers used to share resources, software, and information via a network. Each server has a different function. Some servers run applications and some deliver a service. The information […]
In March of 2016, the CDC added a supplemental document to the 2003 Dental Infection Control Guidelines regarding sterilization of handpieces. This is not a new rule. Dental handpieces and associated attachments, including low-speed motors that can be removed from the air/water lines and reusable prophylaxis angles, should always be heat sterilized between patients and […]
Hand hygiene has received much more attention than stethoscope hygiene, but microbiology data shows that stethoscope contamination after a single exam is comparable to that of the physician’s dominant hand. Infection control guidelines from the CDC state that re-usable medical equipment, such as stethoscopes, must undergo disinfection between patients with alcohol swabs, alcohol gel, or […]
OSHA Are your new employees providing evidence of baseline TB skin tests upon hire? Should you be testing annually? The CDC recommends a baseline TB skin test upon hire for healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers who have face to face contact or potential exposures to TB infected patients. There are 2 options for testing: […]
No one can deny that technology has been a boon to the healthcare sector enabling better care for patients and convenience for providers. Smart devices of all types connect with medical record and billing systems and various applications through cloud computing. Unfortunately, all this interconnectedness has created opportunities for hacking and other illegal activity. […]
The Phase II Audits from the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) are right around the corner! The program, announced by Health & Human Services (HHS) in 2016, was created to take a “snapshot” of HIPAA compliance in the healthcare industry. HHS wants to know how well the guidelines are understood by covered entities and where […]
How to handle in-office laundry seems to be a quandary of many medical/dental facilities. Some confusion comes from the array of adjectives used to describe items that need to be laundered: Is it dirty? Soiled? Contaminated? How laundry is defined will dictate how it can be safely handled for laundering. It’s important to know how […]
OSHA: Many offices have sharps containers mounted to the wall, on the floor, or on the counter. What is the best location for a safe sharps disposal container to be located? Accessibility is one of the criteria that should be considered before deciding on the general location and placement. Sharps containers should be within […]
July 6, 2017 (ATLANTA, GA) — The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), a community of clinicians, educators, consultants, researchers and industry representatives who advocate for safe and infection-free delivery of oral healthcare, has announced the members of the 2017-2018 OSAP Board of Directors and the 2017-2018 OSAP Foundation Board of Directors. The new […]
The prevalence of bloodborne pathogen exposure events in healthcare remains a huge concern as emphasized by the annual reports of sharps related injuries in health care from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The topic is reviewed in our trainings, officer webinars and inserted in the TMC OSHA manuals. An effective Exposure Control Plan […]
