We all know from grade school history that the Declaration of Independence was passed on July 4, 1776 by 56 delegates to the Continental Congress who declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain and King George III. The Declaration asserted certain natural and legal rights including those certain inalienable rights of Life, Liberty and […]
Recent Articles
Food and Drug Administration Issues Guidelines for Reusable Medical Devices
On June 9, 2017, the Food and Drug Administration determined that it was necessary for manufactures of certain reusable medical devices to provide instruction for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization. Reusable medical devices include devices such as bronchoscopes, forceps, coloscopes, gastroscopes, and other reusable devices. The June 9th notice provided a list of certain reusable medical […]
Additional Workers’ Compensation Benefits are Available for Permanent Scars and Disfigurement
The Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Act permits an injured worker to collect additional benefits for permanent scars and disfigurement and specific loss. A specific loss award also applies to workers who have permanent loss of their eyesight or hearing, or the use of a thumb, hand, finger, leg, toe, or foot. Disfigurement claims are only allowed […]
Joint Commission Issues National Patient Safety Goal for Wrong Site Surgery
In January 2017, the Joint Commission issued a National Patient Safety Goal and Universal Protocol for preventing wrong site, wrong procedure, and wrong person surgery. Wrong site surgery means that the surgical procedure was performed on the incorrect portion of the anatomy for which surgery was intended. The wrong procedure means that the operation that […]
Why Do Patients Fall?
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, it is estimated that between 700,000 and 1,000,000 people in the United States fall in a hospital or medical facility annually. A patient fall is defined as an unplanned decent to the floor with or without injury to the patient. […]