November, 2011

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CVS Refuses to Fill Prescriptions For Some Florida Doctors

The Health Law Firm

The crack down on Florida pill mills continues with CVS pharmacies notifying some doctors that they no longer will fill their prescriptions for certain narcotic medications. According to Health News Florida , this new policy appears to be limited to Florida, but CVS has not clearly stated what is being used to determine which doctors can have their prescriptions filled for which drugs (though oxycodone definitely appears to be a target).

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Clinical Trial: When Research Goes Wrong

The Health Law Firm

Three patients died in an unapproved medical trial conducted between 2003 and 2004. Now, the executives of Snythes Inc., a medical-device company, are awaiting sentencing this week after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor as "responsible corporate officers," according to Business Week. The Synthes officials allegedly bypassed FDA protocol to have surgeons test bone cement in people with spine fractures.

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In Treatment: Physicians and the Professionals Resource Network (PRN)

The Health Law Firm

In an industry so concerned with serving others, physicians and other health professionals sometimes find that they are the ones being pushed towards a treatment program. According to a recent study , alcohol abuse is the most common reason for enrolling in a physician health program. Other reasons for treatment included opioid, stimulant and sedative abuse.

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Why You May Be Waiting For Your Florida Medical License

The Health Law Firm

Applying for a Florida medical license ? Read this now, so you don't have to wait later. What are the most common problems that hinder an application for a medical license or other health professional license in Florida? Still waiting for your Florida medical license or other health professional license? Here are some reasons why it may be taking so long.

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The Evolution of Communication in Healthcare Settings

Healthcare communication has evolved from handwritten notes and paper charts to digital tools like EHRs, telemedicine, and AI-powered platforms. This blog explores how these advancements improve patient outcomes, streamline care delivery, and enhance provider collaboration. Learn about the role of mobile health (mHealth) apps, secure messaging, and social media in bridging communication gaps.

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Nurses: Advanced Practice May Mean Advanced Legal Issues

The Health Law Firm

From George Indest’s Nursing Law Manual The advanced nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who has completed some form of advanced nursing education and training. Two types of advanced nurses are the advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) and the certified nurse specialist. In Florida, there are three types of certified nurse specialists: certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners.

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Are You Ready for HIPAA and HITECH Audits?

The Health Law Firm

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is launching a pilot program this month to make sure covered entities are in compliance with HIPAA privacy and security rules and breach notification standards, according to the OCR. The OCR will perform up to 150 audits to assess HIPAA compliance. The HITECH Act requires HHS to perform periodic audits to check for HIPAA compliance.

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Benchmark: DEA Conduct Resulted in Dismissed Charges

The Health Law Firm

In light of the DEA's recent focus on Florida's prescription drug trafficking problem, we wanted to discuss a former case in which the DEA's actions resulted in a favorable outcome for alleged drug dealers. According to the Daily Journal, in 2004, US District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper dismissed charges against three alleged methamphetamine dealers after an attorney to one of the defendants argued that the informant improperly relied on a "subinformant" to set up drug transactions in order for

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Halifax Whistleblower Claims Hospital Overbilled Medicare

The Health Law Firm

The US Department of Justice has joined a whistleblower suit filed against Halifax Hospital by the hospital's director of physician services, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal. The US Department of Justice filed its part of the lawsuit on Friday. It claims that Halifax Health defrauded the federal government by submitting thousands of false claims for Medicare and Medicaid payments worth millions of dollars.

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Nurses Rx: Medication Administration

The Health Law Firm

From George Indest's Nursing Law Manual Nurses face a busy schedule often including a long list of patients and extensive work hours. As a result, they can become overworked and overtired, which may lead to mistakes when carrying out essential job duties like administering medication. An Institute of Medicine (IOM) report titled To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System (IOM, Dec. 1999) states the deaths from medication errors that take place both in and out of hospitals, more than 7,000 a

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3 Reasons to Retire Pagers from Healthcare Settings

Let's discuss the trusty pager—an old favorite that’s losing its shine in hospitals and clinics. While once a staple in hospitals and clinics, pagers now present significant limitations that hinder rather than facilitate communication among healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals are constantly on the move, and they need communication tools that can keep up with their fast-paced lives.

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Kissimmee, Pine Hills Pain Clinics Investigated

The Health Law Firm

Clinics in Kissimmee and Pine Hills are under investigation. A doctor involved with the clinics is accused of over-prescribing painkillers and other addictive medicine, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Drug agents with the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation collected evidence and talked to patients at the Miracle Health Center/Pine Hills Medical Center, and at the Keneday Medical Clinic.

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Nurses: Insuring Your Legal Protection

The Health Law Firm

Though many nurses pursue a career in nursing hoping that they will never face disciplinary charges, any number of events not in a nurse's control can lead to an investigation or administrative action. Nurses need to make sure they are covered if this ever occurs, with appropriate insurance. The primary reason that a nurse should purchase a professional liability insurance policy is that this type of insurance usually includes coverage for legal defense of licensing and disciplinary action comme

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Emergency Suspension Orders and Medicaid Fraud

The Health Law Firm

In the recent case of Mendelsohn v. State of Florida Department of Health , Dr. Mendelsohn's license to practice medicine was suspended under an Emergency Suspension Order (ESO). According to the ESO, Dr. Mendelsohn is licensed to practice medicine in Florida pursuant to the provisions of chapter 458, Florida Statutes. Doctor Pleas Nolo Contendre to Fraud Charge.

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Former Texas Official Sentenced for Retaliation Against Nurses

The Health Law Firm

According to ABC News , Scott Tidwell, a former West Texas county attorney, will serve four months in jail and 10 years of probation for retaliating against two nurses. The nurses filed an anonymous complaint to state medical regulators against a doctor who used herbal remedies and hospital supplies to perform at-home procedures. The doctor then ordered a friend, a county sheriff at the time, to investigate the complaint, which resulted in the nurses being fired from their jobs and charged with

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15 Modern Use Cases for Enterprise Business Intelligence

Large enterprises face unique challenges in optimizing their Business Intelligence (BI) output due to the sheer scale and complexity of their operations. Unlike smaller organizations, where basic BI features and simple dashboards might suffice, enterprises must manage vast amounts of data from diverse sources. What are the top modern BI use cases for enterprise businesses to help you get a leg up on the competition?

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Cheating, Irregular Behavior and Other Maladies Plaguing Future Physicians: Part Two

The Health Law Firm

The road to becoming a physician is paved with many unique challenges. The uphill battle begins with rigorous undergraduate course work, followed by the MCAT and medical school applications. Upon acceptance into medical school, you are faced with the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) and its STEP 1 and STEP 2 exams. At any of these stages, a student can be accused of numerous faults including cheating, misrepresentation, falsification of information, unfair advantages and the m

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Legally Speaking: Psychologists, Mental Health Counselors, Social Workers and Therapists

The Health Law Firm

Supervised by the Board of Psychology and the Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, psychologists, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Clinical Social Workers and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists are responsible for an important component of patient care: mental health. Insuring the mental health of a patient does not come without risks.

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In Brief: Florida Pain Management Clinic Laws

The Health Law Firm

Every health profession has its own set of rules and regulations. This week, we're examining Florida laws under which pain management clinics operate. Because Florida has one of the worst drug trafficking problems in the country, law enforcement is making sure that punishments for any violations are severe. For example, if a patient dies of drug overdose and the prescriber is found to be responsible, he or she can be charged with homicide, which was the case for a Palm Beach County pain manageme

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South Florida Painkiller Network Newest Target in String of Florida Pill Mill Raids

The Health Law Firm

Another South Florida pill mill was busted by federal agents this month, adding to Florida's increasingly negative reputation as one of the worst drug trafficking states. According to the Miami Herald , 24 people were indicted on charges of defrauding Medicare while distributing oxycodone and oxymorphone across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. These healthcare providers were involved in a distribution network allegedly worth $40 million.

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From Diagnosis to Delivery: How AI is Revolutionizing the Patient Experience

Speaker: Simran Kaur, Founder & CEO at Tattva Health Inc.

The healthcare landscape is being revolutionized by AI and cutting-edge digital technologies, reshaping how patients receive care and interact with providers. In this webinar led by Simran Kaur, we will explore how AI-driven solutions are enhancing patient communication, improving care quality, and empowering preventive and predictive medicine. You'll also learn how AI is streamlining healthcare processes, helping providers offer more efficient, personalized care and enabling faster, data-driven