Massachusetts Voters Reject Nurse Patient Ratios
On November 6, 2018,Massachusetts voters rejected a ballot initiative that would have mandated nurse staffing ratios. Passage of Massachusetts’ “Patient Safety Act” would have capped the maximum number of patients that could be assigned to each registered nurse in Massachusetts hospitals and health care facilities. If the ballot question had passed, hospitals could have been […]
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Category: News & Updates, Nursing
Is Your Medical Device Subject To Being Hacked?
More than half of provider organizations lack a strong degree of confidence in their medical device security, according to a survey by KLAS Research, a data company, and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. The majority of surveyed provider groups said they attributed security problems to the device manufacturers, particularly if the devices can’t […]
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Category: News & Updates, Professional Development
Will Your Continuing Education Count When Renewing Your Nursing License?
Come March 2019 and thereafter, nurses will need to comply with new continuing education requirements when renewing their nursing licenses. While nurses are still required to earn a minimum of 25 credit hours of approved continuing education during the 2 year period preceding renewal, the new rules expand the ways in which continuing education credits […]
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Post Tagged with Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Donna Craig, Licensure, The Health Law Center Youth Mental Health Emergency Department Visits Have Increased In Recent Years
To those who provide mental health services, it comes as no surprise that emergency department visits among children and youth for mental health concerns has dramatically increased in recent years. The Pediatric Health Information System conducted a study of youth mental health-related services at 45 children’s hospitals between 2012 through 2016. The rate of mental […]
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Category: Mental Health, News & Updates
Do You Know Where Your Electronic Device Is?
Today it is common for health care facilities, medical practices and health care companies to issue electronic devices, such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc., to their employees for use when conducting business. Such electronic devices, while essential to carrying out business functions, it is important that these electronic devices are inventoried, tracked, and if redeployed […]
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Category: Electronic Health Records, HIPAA, News & Updates, Telemedicine
U.S. Senate Passes Opioid Legislation, Expanding Prescribing Authority For Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants
The U.S. Senate recently passed the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act and the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act as part of a compromise opioid legislation package negotiated between the U.S. House and Senate. The legislation awaits President Trump’s signature. Section 3201 in SUPPORT […]
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Category: News & Updates, Opioid Epidemic
Post Tagged with Advance Practice Registered Nurse, APRN, Donna Craig, Opioid, The Health Law Center HIPAA – Do Your Policies and Procedures Comply With Security Requirements?
In a recent newsletter issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights, the Office highlights critical considerations when developing policies and procedures to ensure the security of electronic media and devices. HIPAA requires covered entities and business associates to implement policies and procedures to limit physical access to its electronic […]
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Category: HIPAA, News & Updates, Professional Development
Oops, They Did It Again: Will Your Medicare Part B Reimbursement Decrease?
Every year the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposes Medicare Part B reimbursement rules for the upcoming year. The 2019 proposed rule changes could affect the amount of reimbursement physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified registered nurse anesthetists receive. If these proposed rules are finalized, clinicians could lose as much […]
Read MoreCould You Be Facing A Professional Licensure Investigation? Part III
The American Nurses Association – Michigan Chapter recently published the third installment of a four-part article series, focusing on important steps health care professionals should consider when involved in licensure investigations. Do you know what steps to take after being interviewed by an investigator from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional […]
Read MoreAudiologists Play A Role In Early Dementia Screening
The Hearing Review recently published the article, “Dementia Screening – A Role for Audiologists”, in which the authors review the rationale and importance of dementia screenings, and suggests a specific screening protocol which can be easily and quickly adapted into a clinical office visit, as part of the intake, counseling, or expectations discussion. Audiologists and […]
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Category: Professional Development
