December, 2020
Dear Friends & Colleagues,
Welcome to the latest edition of The Healthcare SafetyZone® Newsletter, formerly The Clarity Post. It's been several months since the last issue of our newsletter, and the world has changed in profound ways. We are always talking about the "dynamic nature of healthcare" and the "evolving healthcare landscape," but this past year has illustrated in the starkest terms just how dynamic and evolving this industry truly is...and must be.
We wish you health and safety during this time and always, and we hope that as this year slowly winds to a close, you are able to find a little comfort and joy for yourself and those you love.
Please read on for a taste of what we've been up to lately, as well as a quick look at the latest news and notes from around the world of healthcare.
Regards,
Tom Piotrowski, RN, MSN, CSSGB
President, Clarity Group, Inc.
Executive Director, Clarity PSO, A Division of Clarity Group, Inc.
HEALTHCARE HOT TOPICS
CYBERSECURITY
With all of the increased reliance on technology in reaction to COVID-19, it's probably no coincidence that the healthcare sector has seen a substantial uptick in cybersecurity threats as well. This recent article by Mike Miliard over at Healthcare IT News discusses some of the measures taken by the FBI and HHS in response to these attacks, and outlines a number of recommendations for how healthcare providers can best protect themselves from threats of all types.
Department of Health & Human Services Cybersecurity Resources >>
Healthcare IT News Article >>
TELEHEALTH
For several years now telehealth has been emerging as a practical option for routine consultations and certain diagnostics, namely in the world of radiology and more recently at boutique healthcare providers serving on-the-go urban professionals. But 2020 has seen dramatic growth in the use of telehealth services as a means of combating the spread of COVID-19, and with that the number of services being translated into the realm of telehealth is at an all-time high.
We'll have to watch the data in the aftermath of the pandemic for signs of any long-term fallout that results from this evolution, but as a leading provider of risk management and reporting services for providers nationwide, we know one thing is true no matter what: risk follows the patient.
Telehealth Deep-dive from BMC Public Health >>
SPOTLIGHT: COMMUNITY HEALTH
NACHC PRESS RELEASE: "Nearly Half of Health Center Patients Qualify for Phase One COVID Vaccinations"
A new press release from NACHC is spotlighting a recent report by researchers at the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, which indicates that of the nearly 30 million patients that community health centers serve nationally, roughly 14.1 million qualify for Phase One COVID-19 vaccinations based on CDC guidelines.
This startling figure shines a light on the reality that community health centers are a crucial safety net for major at-risk segments of our population. We're proud of the work we do with community health centers, caring for them so they can care for the populations they serve. The SafetyZone & Community Health >>
SPOTLIGHT: COVID-19 REPORTING
We've established a number of direct COVID-19 event reporting forms for healthcare providers, built on our Healthcare SafetyZone® reporting platform, and informed by the experiences of our clients on the front lines. These templates are immediately available for healthcare providers of every type regardless of what platform you use for your incident reporting currently.
Thanks for reading this latest edition of the Healthcare SafetyZone® Newsletter.
Do you have an idea for a topic that you'd like to see covered here?
Email us your thoughts at info@claritygrp.com.
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