On December 3, Cal/OSHA issued a News Release stating that the California agency cited Kaiser Foundation Hospitals $149,000 for exposing workers to injury and infection from used needles in the hospital’s sharps collection containers. At least three employees have been…
On October 11th, Governor Brown signed AB 679 into law, which will push back the CURES enrollment deadline from January 1, 2016, to July 1, 2016. CURES, which stands for Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System, stores Schedule II,…
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is promoting tomorrow, Saturday, September 26th as National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the 26th, the public will have the opportunity to rid from their homes potentially dangerous…
CDC Issues Official Health Advisory Concerning Need to Improve Procedures for Processing Reusable Medical Devices for Reuse On September 11, 2015, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an Official Health Advisory to healthcare facilities on the…
On July 10, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission issued its FCC Declaratory Ruling and Order clarifying requirements under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The Ruling, which took effect immediately, enhances consumer protections from unwanted calls and text messages to cell…
The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is rolling out a new online program that will revolutionize the way dental licensees and license applicants do business. The online program is called BreEZe, which is DCA’s new licensing and enforcement system…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides valuable online resources and information on proper hand hygiene in healthcare settings. Educational materials include interactive training for employees, an overview of hand hygiene, CDC guidelines, materials for patients, etc. Additionally,…
The Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is charged with enforcing x-ray safety requirements in California. Last week we spoke with an RHB representative who asked if we could send out a reminder to…
Infection control is a serious concern for patients, staff, dentists and regulators. Public awareness from media outlets can highlight the need for following recognized and mandated infection control rules and guidelines. The investigative report KCRA by a Sacramento, California news station showed…
Healthcare employers are not required to provide routine booster shots or serologic testing to their employees, other than serologic testing immediately following the vaccination series. OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard incorporates the recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) by…
