The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced a final rule to implement a unique device identification system (UDI) that will provide a consistent way to identify medical devices. The system has the potential to improve the quality of information in medical device adverse events reports, which will help the FDA respond more quickly […]
The International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions last week released Reducing Inappropriate Opioid Use in Treatment of Injured Workers: A Policy Guide for workers’ compensation policymakers and system administrators. The guide features 10 recommendations applicable to evaluating legislative, regulatory or administrative policies related to opioid prescribing practices. Topics include treatment guidelines, monitoring patients, […]
The Medical Identity Fraud Alliance is a newly formed coalition that will work collaboratively to heighten consumer awareness and identify best practices for fraud prevention. Medical identify fraud involves the theft of personally identifiable health information for financial gain and to obtain medical goods and services. Victims of medical identity theft include patients, healthcare providers, […]
Traumatic brain injury is one of the most common, costly and disabling occupational injuries. The NFL reached a tentative $765 million settlement yesterday over retired players’ concussion-related brain injuries, serving as a reminder that professional athletes are among those at risk. Under the settlement, the league would compensate victims, pay for medical exams and underwrite […]
Businesses with large workforces and multiple locations are finding innovative uses for mobile health applications. The latest tool from UL Workplace Health and Safety is a mobile app that employee health nurses and other clinical staff can use to schedule, conduct and track employee vaccinations in the field. “It’s our first real dive into (mHealth),” […]
OSHA’s newly released Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica has been submitted for publication in the Federal Register. The proposed rule seeks to lower worker exposures to crystalline silica, which is linked to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease. Once the proposed rule appears in the Federal […]
Providing patient-specific decision support, facilitating clinical workflow and coordinating care are ways health information technology (IT) can help clinicians and patients make decisions that may lead to better outcomes, according to Findings and Lessons from the Improving Quality Through Clinician Use of Health IT Grant Initiative, a new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research […]
This year I had the opportunity to attend Safety 2013, the annual professional development conference of the American Society of Safety Engineers – my first safety conference as a college intern and my first visit to Las Vegas.
Enrollment in the Occupational Health and Safety Network (OHSN) is now open to healthcare organizations. The network is a much-anticipated secure electronic surveillance system designed to help reduce work-related injuries and illnesses in healthcare settings. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed the network in consultation with hospitals and other stakeholders. […]