FDA warns of risk from 24-hour multi-patient endoscope connectors The FDA issued a warning to health care providers against using 24-hour multi-patient use endoscope connectors. Created for use with multiple patients without reprocessing and sold under the name ERBEFLO, this port connector, the FDA claims, "does not include a backflow prevention feature." As a result, there is a risk of cross contamination with "blood, stool, or other fluids from previous patients that travel back through the endoscope channels into the connector." Instead the FDA recommends backflow prevention through connectors designed either for single use or to be reprocessed between patients.Reduce risks of workplace violence The Joint Commission's new Sentinel Event Alert aims to reduce the risk of physical and verbal violence against healthcare workers, who are 4 times more likely than employees in other professions to be victimized by a host of threats, ranging from daily bullying to active shooters. The alert outlines ways to recognize and reduce the risk of contributing factors of workplace violence and properly manage the aftermath of events that do occur.Pennsylvania's proposed ASC tax A proposal in Pennsylvania's 2018-2019 state budget would add a 2.81% tax on ASCs in the state to provide additional funding for the state's Medicaid program. A coalition of 17 state medical societies came out against the tax hike in a letter to all state legislators saying each ASC would have to pay approximately $100,000 more in taxes each year, which could force some to reduce services or close altogether.
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