USDA Grants available: by 4/25/2011 for Distance Learning and Telemedicine (subject to appropriations)

The FDA issued updated advise regarding Emergency Situations (Medical Devices) Medical Device and Hurricane Emergencies; some of the advice is applicable to any wind emergency or power outage.

September 14th's online edition of the Life and Health Insurance News reports : "The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has posted draft model language for health coverage provisions concerning preventive services, rescissions and lifetime and annual benefits limits." The group also developed model criteria for utilization review and coverage decisions.   The NAIC subcommittee is providing assistance to Federal regulators in drafting language and assuring uniformity of insurance coverage decisions in all 50 states -- and it appears that the proposed language is quite efficient.

Can we figure that Obama thinks evidence based medicine and patient safety should   continue to be an important focus for CMS.? The AHA  on July 7, 2010 reported “President Obama today appointed Donald Berwick, M.D., as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Berwick is president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. "Given the importance of health reform to millions of Americans, tapping a respected leader for CMS is of the utmost importance," said AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock. "President Obama has found such a leader in Don Berwick. Don has dedicated his career to engaging hospitals, doctors, nurses and other health care providers to improve patient care. A physician and innovator in health care quality, his knowledge of the health care system makes him the right choice. We look forward to working with Don in the months ahead to improve health care in America." Berwick served as an independent member of the AHA Board of Trustees from 1996 to 1999.” “

WSHA Makes Presentations of general interest to RMs available. These are from the Washington State Hospital Association's 33rd Annual Rural Conference -- topics include HIT, L&I inspections, and disaster planning.

FDA’s Recently Issued Documents seem to show it’s determined to improve patient safety while using medical devices:
The FDA is clearly intent on improving its processes for evaluating the safety of medical devices as actually used in the clinical setting.  For example, it’s published a new Health Hazard Evaluation  or Health Risk Assessment for manufacturers.  (Center for Devices and Radiological Health ). Email your comments here. It’s also sponsoring an initiative to evaluate IV safety.  The FDA also recently hosted a significant conference looking at the safety of medical devices used in the home care setting called the  Medical Device Home Use Initiative. The presentations from  its May, 2010 Public Workshop are available. (Reference: MedSun: Newsletter #50, July 2010). The FDA is considering the premarket review process, postmarket surveillance, risks in the home environment, user characteristics, training issues and wireless technologies.  more>

MedSun Newsletters
The FDA also recently issued formal emergency use authorizations for certain unapproved diagnostic tools—a direct outcome of the H1N1 resurgence. Technically of  interest to manufacturers and purchasers of these items for use in the clinical setting, the document is nonetheless interesting reading for anyone who wants to know more about the authority, criteria and process for declaring and responding to a national health emergency.  Review the preamble in the Federal Register: June 21, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 118)][Page 35045-35070]. Federal Register Online go to online GPO Access

Operating Room Fire Prevention Video Available
Excerpted From the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory
The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation offers a free video on OR Fire Prevention, available on its website. The video promotes OR fire-prevention best practices including controlling oxygen concentration levels at or near the surgical site. It projects OR fire statistics based in part on analysis of events reported to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority. The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory also has several articles discussing OR fire prevention, including “Airway Fires during Surgery”, and an educational poster highlighting ways to minimize and also to fight airway fires.