March 11th, 2019
Research suggests that medical errors are now the third leading cause of death in the United States, totalling over 250,000 deaths per year. (3) In addition, The Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine estimates that every nine minutes, someone in a U.S. hospital dies due to a wrong or delayed medical diagnosis. (5) From a global perspective, The World Health Organization has estimated that 1 in 10 patients of high-income countries have been harmed while receiving care in a hospital, of which 50% of these incidents considered preventable. (1)
December 17th, 2018
It’s no secret that we are in the peak of flu season! Whether you are a nurse, primary care physician, or healthcare professional you are not only susceptible to the virus itself, but you also play a significant role in helping to protect patients against influenza. The CDC recommends that all healthcare workers get vaccinated annually against influenza, as it is the best way to prevent the flu. They also recommend a yearly flu vaccine for all individuals ages 6 months and older.
April 11th, 2018
Despite the progress made in patient safety over the years, medical errors are still a significant source of injury and said to be the third cause of death in the US, indicating there is still much work to be done. Continued safety education and awareness on the proper methods, procedures, and processes are vital to ensuring patient safety within hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide.
March 26th, 2018
March 11-17, 2018 was National Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW). This week is about raising awareness of patient safety and best practices among healthcare providers and consumers. It is an ideal time for medical practices and healthcare organizations to celebrate successes and focus on patient safety opportunities. This week MedSafe would like to recognize all of the hardworking patient safety professionals that contribute to advancing patient safety, reducing risk, and maximizing value-based care.
November 6th, 2017
The US Consumer Product and Safety Commission is recalling nearly 40 million Kidde-brand fire extinguishers because they may not work in an emergency. The fire extinguishers have been connected to one death, 16 injuries, 391 reports of failure to work properly, and 91 reports of property damage.
October 25th, 2017
More than 77 million individuals in the United States have limited health literacy skills and will likely encounter challenges interpreting and acting upon health information. (2) According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, nine out of ten adults may not have the skills needed to manage their health and prevent disease.
July 7th, 2017
Medical errors are now the third highest cause of death, accounting for more than 250,000 deaths per year in the US. (1) Second only to heart disease and cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (3) Many believe this estimate is too low and the true number of deaths is around 400,000 per year (2).
December 1st, 2016
To prevent work-related injuries and illness, The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers to record work-related injuries and illnesses in an “OSHA log.” OSHA is now issuing a new rule which requires certain employers to submit injury and illness data electronically, effective January 1, 2017.
September 14th, 2016
The failure to properly train employees on hazardous chemicals such as formaldehyde is the second most frequently cited violation in healthcare facilities across the US. In fact, fines as much as $112,000 have been issued by The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to healthcare facilities for the failure to provide employees with the proper formaldehyde training and monitoring.
August 23rd, 2016
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) just issued new penalty adjustments that will go into effect this month, based on recent legislation that requires federal agencies to adjust their civil penalties to account for inflation. It has been more than 25 years since OSHA last adjusted their maximum penalties, therefor an increase of 78% will be implemented. Moving forward, penalties will be adjusted each year for inflation. Now more than ever, it is imperative for medical offices to be proactive to ensure their compliance.
July 11th, 2016
February 4th, 2016
Written by Anne Carrie
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are nearly 385,000 sharps-related injuries that occur annually in the US healthcare industry, which is an average of 1,000 per day. A sharps injury is penetrating stab wound from a needle, scalpel, or another sharp object that may result in exposure to blood or body fluids.
January 29th, 2016
The importance of the proper sterilization of dental instruments, supplies, and equipment used in patient care is a critical aspect of health-care delivery that directly impacts patient safety. Health-care-associated infections (HAIs) impose a significant economic impact on the US health-care system as a leading cause of mortality and morbidity, with annual medical costs from $35.7 billion to $45 billion.
February 17th, 2012
Last week’s blog outlined what to expect when OSHA visits, from the knock on the door to the initial meetings, and ending with the documentation you will need to provide. This week’s blog continues with the onsite visit.
After having gathered the requested documentation, the inspector will tour your worksite to...
June 29th, 2011
OSHA is about to overhaul several outdated regulations and align some of its standards with those administered by other agencies. The rule, which will soon be published in the Federal Register, is expected to save employers $43 million and significantly reduce time spent processing paperwork by 1.85 million hours annually....