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jueves, 21 de junio de 2018
Partnership for Disaster Health Response Cooperative Agreement Funding Opportunity Announcement - PHE
Partnership for Disaster Health Response Cooperative Agreement Funding Opportunity Announcement - PHE
NIOSH Research Rounds - June, 2018
NIOSH Research Rounds - June, 2018
Inside NIOSH:
Outside NIOSH:
Outside NIOSH:
In This Issue |
Inside NIOSH:
"Machine Learning" Targets Prevention of Musculoskeletal Injuries, and Slips, Trips, and Falls
Low back strains, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other soft-tissue musculoskeletal injuries are the most frequent causes of missed workdays in the United States, and most result from ergonomic, slip, trip, or fall hazards, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,. Fortunately, most of these hazards can be minimized through workplace interventions. One effective approach is ergonomics, which is the study of preventing musculoskeletal disorders through workplace design and policies.
Lift-assist System Has Baggage Handlers' Backs
For travelers, restrictions on baggage weight may mean packing fewer pairs of shoes. For airport baggage handlers, weight restrictions, combined with proper lifting, are important to safety and health but may not be enough to prevent work-related back injuries.
Outside NIOSH:
Study Aims to Improve the Health of New Construction Workers
With spring’s warmer temperatures, many workers may be heading off to new jobs in construction. As one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, construction poses the greatest safety and health risks to new workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Outside NIOSH:
Pilot Study Connects Employers to Create Family-friendly Workplaces
As most working parents know, finding the right work-life balance can be tricky. Music recitals, sports practices and games, field trips, doctor appointments, homemade family dinners, and … a 40-hour (or, in some cases, more) work week?
Compression: Another Critical Factor in Image Quality
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Many factors contribute to the image quality of mammograms. In a previous article, we discussed the importance of patient positioning by the radiologic technologist (RT). Another factor which plays an important role in quality imaging is breast compression. Did you know that inadequate compression played a role in up to 38% of image quality deficiencies?
Compression is necessary to separate overlapping breast tissue for better X-ray penetration, which in turn produces clearer images of the tissue and decreases the amount of radiation exposure needed to perform the mammogram. In addition, with the breast held in place, artifact from patient motion or breathing is reduced. Achieving adequate compression may be challenging, but everyone involved in mammography, from the patient to the facility personnel to the equipment manufacturers, can help improve the image quality and the patient’s experience.
Like positioning, compression requires cooperation and communication between patient and technologist, as the technologist often must make fine adjustments to the compression to ensure adequate tissue separation while attempting to minimize patient discomfort. Studies have shown that women may fail to return for mammography due to fear of painful compression. It has also been found that a patient’s fear and anticipation of the mammogram may be experienced as worse than the mammogram itself, and that a technologist’s explanation about what she is going to be doing during the exam can help prepare the patient for the experience and reduce her discomfort, which may encourage women to undergo regular screening mammograms.
Another partner in this collaboration is the interpreting physician (IP). The IP should give feedback to the RT on the image quality of the mammograms she performs. This feedback is part of good clinical practice, and is also required under the MQSA regulations, as highlighted in the EQUIP initiative. This initiative includes an MQSA inspection question related to the mechanism for IP feedback to the RT on images which do not meet quality standards. If one or more images presented for interpretation do not meet at least minimum quality standards set by the facility’s accreditation body, the IP should give feedback to the RT, as noted in section 900.12(d)(1)(ii)(A) of the regulations, and unless there are extenuating circumstances, those images should generally be repeated.
Another way for a facility to ensure appropriate compression is for the designated quality control (QC) technologist to properly test the mammography unit during the semiannual compression force test, one of the QC tests required by the MQSA regulations. Section 900.12(e)(4)(iii)(B) of the regulations states the requirements for passing the compression force testing. Likewise, the medical physicist (MP) also plays an important role in ensuring appropriate compression. The MP must annually review the results of the facility’s compression force testing, along with other tests conducted by the facility. For some equipment, there are also situations when tests related to compression must be performed by the MP as part of the annual survey or the mammography equipment evaluation.
In addition, the mammography equipment industry has contributed technical innovations to improve the overall comfort of mammography while maintaining image quality. The FDA has cleared for U.S. marketing many devices, accessories, or features which may lessen the discomfort of breast compression. These include a cushion for the breast on the surface of the mammography unit; compression paddles with fixed or dynamic tilt that distribute compression across the front and back of the breast; a curved compression paddle to fit some breast contours; and a compression paddle control device used by the patient, under the guidance of the technologist, to assist the technologist in adjusting the amount of compression.
Thus, personal interactions, technical and interpretive skills, and equipment innovations all combine to promote more comfortable but adequate compression, with its benefits of improved image quality and reduced radiation exposure. In this way, women, radiologic technologists, interpreting physicians, medical physicists, the imaging industry, and the FDA all cooperate to further the shared goal of early detection of breast cancer.
FDA Withdraws Draft Guidance for Industry: Statistical Approaches to Evaluate Analytical Similarity
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is withdrawing the draft guidance for industry entitled “Statistical Approaches to Evaluate Analytical Similarity,” issued in September 2017. The draft guidance, if finalized as written, was intended to provide advice for sponsors developing biosimilar products regarding the evaluation of analytical similarity between a proposed biosimilar product and the reference product.
The agency intends to issue future draft guidance that will reflect state-of-the-art techniques in the evaluation of analytical data to support a demonstration that a proposed biosimilar product is highly similar to a reference product.
The FDA continues to encourage sponsors of proposed biosimilar products to discuss product development plans with the agency, including the evaluation of analytical data intended to support a demonstration that the proposed biosimilar product is highly similar to a reference product. The FDA will continue to provide development-stage advice to sponsors of proposed biosimilar products or proposed interchangeable products through several types of formal meetings, which are described in more detail in FDA’s guidance for industry, Formal Meetings Between the FDA and Sponsors or Applicants of BsUFA Products.
More information about this and other FDA guidance documents related to biosimilar products and interchangeable products, as well as contact information for FDA, is available at http://www.fda.gov/biosimilars
The FDA will communicate publicly when new draft guidance is issued in relation to the evaluation of analytical data between a proposed biosimilar product and a reference product.
CDC - June 2018 Edition - Public Health Law News - Public Health Law
CDC - June 2018 Edition - Public Health Law News - Public Health Law
Interview with Peter D. Jacobson, JD, MPH |
| Professor Emeritus of Health Law and Policy, Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health; Director, Center for Law, Ethics, and Health |
Issue Brief: The Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017 |
| This brief provides an overview of the enforcement of the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act—in particular, its effect on standing orders for medications. |
Preemption Watch Preemption Map |
| Grassroots Change presents an interactive map that tracks state preemption laws for eight issues, including e-cigarettes, smoke-free zoning, and fire sprinklers. The map indicates whether local authority has been preserved or preempted for each of the eight issues. |
Public Health Law News Quiz Question, June 2018 |
| What upcoming event is dedicated to the following: improving access to health care; protecting vulnerable populations against health risks and injury; developing protections against discriminatory practices; and strengthening efforts of local, tribal, and state public health agencies? |
HCUP Job Openings at AHRQ! Apply Now!
HCUP Job Openings at AHRQ! Apply Now!
The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (https://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/
The Social Science Analysts will serve as a technical experts and senior advisors on the HCUP team, managing or contributing to tasks for developing research databases and analytical tools and conducting research using HCUP data. Typical duties include activities related to creating large research databases and conducting peer-reviewed research. Database development activities may include developing user-friendly products such as web-based information resources, new data sources, and database enhancements for research and quality improvement. Typical research activities require the skills necessary for conducting complex health services research and analyses, creating technical reports, and other activities to publish, promote, and disseminate the project’s findings. The Social Science Analysts will conduct this work directly and lead or coordinate the work undertaken by other CDOM staff, contractors, or partners in the research community.
The ideal candidate will have experience working with hospital administrative (discharge) data, conducting health services research, and working productively in a team environment.
The positions are located in Rockville, MD. AHRQ is an equal opportunity employer
To Apply:
The position is posted on USA Jobs (https://www.usajobs.gov/
Administrative Simplification Compliance Resources
Administrative Simplification Compliance Resources
Compliance with the adopted Administrative Simplification standards and operating rules can benefit organizations across the health care industry, including providers, health plans, and clearinghouses. CMS has created tools and resources to help you understand and reach compliance, which you can find below.
CMS under the Secretary’s authority granted to HHS also enforces Administrative Simplification requirements to ensure the health care community reaps the benefits of standardized transactions and reduced administrative costs.
Informational Videos
These videos are a quick and easy way to learn about Administrative Simplification compliance and enforcement:
- Enforcing HIPAA Administrative Simplification Requirements – Learn why and how CMS is enforcing Administrative Simplification requirements.
- Reaching Compliance with ASETT – Learn how to use the Administrative Simplification Enforcement and Testing Tool (ASETT) to test transactions and file a complaint.
Administrative Simplification Enforcement and Testing Tool
The Administrative Simplification Enforcement and Testing Tool, or ASETT, allows you to test transactions for HIPAA compliance. You can also use ASETT to file a complaintif you believe there are compliance violations in any of your trading partner transactions. You can use the Quick Start Guide and User Manual to help get started on ASETT.
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