It’s Your Call – February 2025
OSHA: Why is OSHA Ending The COVID-19 Healthcare Rulemaking? A: OSHA has decided to focus on creating a broader Infectious Disease Standard instead of a COVID-19-specific rule for healthcare workers. This approach was always intended to replace the temporary COVID-19 rule and allows OSHA to protect workers from a wide range of infectious diseases, not […]
US Department of Labor Ends COVID-19 Healthcare Rulemaking
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has officially stopped working on a COVID-19-specific healthcare rule. Timeline: June 2021, OSHA issued an Emergency Temporary Standard to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19. Over the next year, the agency gathered public feedback through comment periods and public hearings. December 2022, OSHA […]
It’s Your Call – January 2025
OSHA/Infection Control: What are the three ways to sterilize instruments used on patients? Sterilization of instruments achieves destruction of all forms of microbial life either by physical or chemical methods. There are different ways available to sterilize critical and semi-critical instruments/items utilizing either high or low temperature methods. Most instruments are heat stable and therefore […]
It’s Your Call – December 2024
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 […]
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
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?
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 […]
Reopening After A Hurricane: Steps for Healthcare Facilities to Ensure Safety and Compliance
Following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and any other disaster, one of the many challenges that medical and dental facilities will face is reopening. This article’s purpose is to provide some guidance for all facilities to open safely and to ensure a sanitary environment for both employees and patients. There are several concerns that will […]