The U.S. government is aware of an international ransomware campaign that may be affecting Healthcare and Public Health Sector assets in addition to other Sectors. Please review the information below and share with colleagues. Multiple Petya ransomware infections reported US-CERT has received multiple reports of Petya ransomware infections occurring in networks in many … [Read more...] about Cyber Notice: Current international ransomware campaign
Risk management
How to support the caregivers in your workplace
Half of working female caregivers feel they have to choose between being a good employee and being a good daughter, according to a new survey by Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® network. In addition, one quarter (25 percent) of daughters find there is a workplace stigma in being a caregiver, and 23 percent believe their supervisor is … [Read more...] about How to support the caregivers in your workplace
Protecting your employees from workplace violence
By Lynne Curry bio On June 5, 2017, John Neumann Jr. brought a semiautomatic pistol and a hunting knife into his former workplace. He killed five people before turning his gun against himself. It's become chillingly commonplace for us to learn that a terminated employee has stormed into his former workplace and killed those he holds accountable. Each time, the rest … [Read more...] about Protecting your employees from workplace violence
Pain clinic agrees to pay $1.78 million to settle whistleblower lawsuit
Ross Feller Casey, LLP, recently announced that the Atlantic Spine & Joint Institute and its owners, Robert C. McGrath, Sr., D.O., and Robert C. McGrath, Jr., have agreed to pay $1.78 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit alleging they billed Medicare for procedures that were not medically necessary or were not actually performed. The father and son also pleaded guilty … [Read more...] about Pain clinic agrees to pay $1.78 million to settle whistleblower lawsuit
How to handle an angry patient
In a medical practice, an angry patient – and sometimes a really angry patient – is apt to appear any time. In a business such as a fast food restaurant, anger is minimal, because the customers don't have high expectations to begin with, says Bob Rose, PhD, of the Rose Porterfield Group, a Dallas business consulting and industrial psychology organization. But when it comes to … [Read more...] about How to handle an angry patient
Six HIPAA violations you may be missing
Is your practice HIPAA compliant? Are you sure? Most health-care providers take very seriously this federal mandate to protect patient privacy—at least in theory. In practice, however, lots of things get missed. "When HIPAA was new and everyone was going to lectures and conferences and getting training, everyone was on top of it," says Erika Adler, an attorney specializing in … [Read more...] about Six HIPAA violations you may be missing
WannaCry: Cyberattack hits critical infrastructure worldwide
By Kimberly Shutters, BCS bio A major worldwide ransomware attack, referred to as WannaCry, hit critical infrastructure and government computers starting mid-May, prompting warnings, patches, and other support to those that may have already been infected or who may be looking to prevent infection. Affected industries worldwide include healthcare, railway operations, … [Read more...] about WannaCry: Cyberattack hits critical infrastructure worldwide
8 traps to avoid when investigating a sexual harassment complaint
Don't rush to judgment—in either direction Back in the bad old days when employers didn't take sexual harassment seriously, harassment complaints were ignored or swept under the rug. To the extent they were investigated at all, the tendency was to downplay the complaint as exaggeration, fabrication or oversensitivity on the part of the victim. The good news: Today's employers … [Read more...] about 8 traps to avoid when investigating a sexual harassment complaint
Model Policy: Nondiscrimination and diversity
Why you need this model policy: Offering equal opportunity to individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, or other personal characteristics not related to their professional abilities is not just a legal mandate but an economic imperative. How this model policy helps you: The key to ensuring diversity … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Nondiscrimination and diversity
Texas health system settles potential HIPAA disclosure violations
Memorial Hermann Health System (MHHS) has agreed to pay $2.4 million to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and adopt a comprehensive corrective action plan to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. MHHS is a not-for-profit health system located in Southeast Texas, comprising 16 hospitals … [Read more...] about Texas health system settles potential HIPAA disclosure violations