Healthcare Risk Management articles from April 2008

Healthcare Risk Management archives from April 2008

Accidents with MRI machines avoidable, and lawsuits are now no-win.
April 1, 2008... Accidents with MRI machines avoidable, and lawsuits are now no-win Some facilities still not working to prevent accidents A renewed focus on safety issues with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines has upped the ante for risk...

'Always-on' magnet often misunderstood.
April 1, 2008... 'Always-on' magnet often misunderstood The Joint Commission's sentinel event database includes five cases that resulted in four deaths and affected four adults and one child, according to Mark R. Chassin, MD, MPP, MPH, president of The...

Forced rectal exam raises consent issue.
April 1, 2008... Forced rectal exam raises consent issue A hospital in New York City is being sued by a former patient who says staff forced him to undergo a rectal examination even after he vehemently refused and fought the doctor and nurses, who then...

States' penalties can apply to data breach.
April 1, 2008... States' penalties can apply to data breach Risk managers who fret so much about compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) should worry at least that much about the potential liability from state laws...

Hospital aims for zero patient harm.
April 1, 2008... Hospital aims for zero patient harm Two hospitals in Boston are taking the lead in patient safety by pledging to eliminate all preventable patient harm within four years, a goal that some patient safety experts applaud, but which others say...

Docs warming up to e-prescribing.
April 1, 2008... Docs warming up to e-prescribing Risk managers and patient safety experts often run into resistance from physicians when they advocate electronic prescription systems, known as e-prescribing, even though the patient safety benefits are...

VA foundations get no immunity.
April 1, 2008... VA foundations get no immunity The Virginia Supreme Court in Richmond has ruled that a physician foundation tied to the University of Virginia Medical School in Richmond and its doctors are not immune from malpractice suits because of the...

Legal Review & Commentary: Hypodermic needle in towel pricks woman's palm, $25,000 verdict awarded.
April 1, 2008... Legal Review & Commentary Hypodermic needle in towel pricks woman's palm, $25,000 verdict awarded By Jon T. Gatto, Esq., Blake J. Delaney, Esq., Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Tampa, FL News: A woman admitted to the hospital put her...

Legal Review & Commentary: Eye treatment leads to vision loss, settlement.
April 1, 2008... Legal Review & Commentary Eye treatment leads to vision loss, settlement News: A man was working with chemicals at his job when a chemical cleaning solution splashed into his eye. He presented to a nearby emergency department, where...

CE objectives/questions.
April 1, 2008... CE objectives After reading this issue of Healthcare Risk Management, the CE participant should be able to: * Describe legal, clinical, financial, and managerial issues pertinent to risk management in health care. * Explain how...