Today’s Top Story
FDA issues safety communication regarding security of Hospira LifeCare PCA3 and PCA5 Infusion Pump Systems.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Hospira have issued a safety communication regarding security vulnerabilities in the Hospira LifeCare PCA3 and PCA5 Infusion Pump Systems. An independent researcher has released information about these vulnerabilities, including software codes, which if exploited, could allow an unauthorized user with malicious intent to access the pump remotely and modify the dosage. FDA is actively investigating the situation based on current information and close engagement with Hospira and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The agency has posted a set of recommendations for healthcare facilities to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. FDA states that it is not currently aware of any patient adverse events or unauthorized device access related to the security vulnerability. Read more…
Other News
Bill seeks to effectively delay ICD-10 implementation until processing systems are certified fully functional.
The Journal of AHIMA reports that a bill under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives would, if enacted, call for an 18-month transition period during which the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would be required to conduct comprehensive end-to-end testing of the ICD-10 claims processing system. The bill does not seek to directly delay the Oct. 1, 2015 implementation date for ICD-10, but would require the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) to certify before Congress that the Medicare fee-for-service claims processing system based on the ICD-10 standard is fully functional before implementation. In addition, the bill would require the secretary of HHS to “provide for transparent testing to assess the transition under the Medicare fee-for-service claims processing system from the ICD-9 to the ICD-10 standard, and for other purposes.” Read more…
Learn more about the bill…
AAOS plans to comment on the legislation, and has recently supported a separate bill that, if enacted, would prohibit the secretary of HHS from replacing ICD-9 with ICD-10. Read more…
Study: Changes in cartilage thickness may help predict risk for TKA.
According to a study published online in the journal Arthritis Care & Research, location-independent analysis of change in cartilage thickness may predict a patient’s risk for future knee arthroplasty. The research team conducted a prospective cohort study of 531 right knees with radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA). At 4-year follow-up, 40 participants had undergone total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The research team noted that, at baseline, TKA patients had thinner medial and lateral femorotibial cartilage compared to non-TKA participants. In addition, compared to those in the non-TKA group, longitudinal cartilage thickness change was significantly greater for TKA patients in total femorotibial joint, lateral compartment, both tibiae, and the first nine of 16 ordered values of subregion change. Read more…
Read the abstract…
Study: Older men less likely than women to take preventative measures against osteoporosis.
Findings to be presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American Geriatrics Society suggest that older men are far less likely than older women to take preventive measures against osteoporosis. The researchers conducted an anonymous cross-sectional survey of 146 outpatients older than 50 years. They found that risk factors for osteoporosis such as smoking, sun exposure, and family history of osteoporosis were all more common in men, while diagnosis of osteopenia/osteoporosis was more common in women. Overall, female sex was significantly associated with perceived benefit of osteoporosis screening in women older than 65 years. The researchers noted that physicians were more likely to recommend osteoporosis screening for women than men, and women were screened significantly more frequently. In addition, women were more likely than men to accept osteoporosis screening tests and significantly more likely than men to supplement with calcium and vitamin D. Read more…
Read the abstract (large PDF; p. S229)…
Report: TKA was most popular “preference-sensitive” treatment among newly insured ACA patients.
A report from the Society of Actuaries suggests that TKA was the most popular “preference-sensitive” healthcare treatment among newly insured patients under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) during the first three months of 2014. The authors drew data on more than 17,000 people who were new to the system and nearly 70,000 continuously enrolled insureds from the Kansas All-Payer Claims Database—a large-scale database that systematically collects medical claims, pharmacy claims, dental claims, and eligibility and provider files from private and public payers. They found that TKA had a relative use of 6.19, compared to 1.53 for all treatments considered in the study. In addition, lower back pain surgery (relative use 2.49) was the second most popular treatment examined, and knee arthroscopy (relative use 1.01) also saw a slight increase. Read more…
Read the report (PDF)…
FDA orders labeling changes of several risedronate sodium products.
FDA has released its monthly update of labeling changes for approved pharmaceuticals. The list includes drug products with safety labeling changes to the boxed warning, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse reactions, or patient package insert/medication guide sections. Included are a variety of risedronate sodium products, which have been linked to risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw with the concomitant use of bisphosphonates and angiogenesis inhibitors. Read more…
JAMA theme issue examines medical professionalism.
The May 12 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) is a theme issue devoted to medical professionalism and governance. The issue includes 19 viewpoint articles and three editorials by scholars and academic leaders. Major themes include whether physician competency and professionalism are ensured through existing licensing, certification, and accreditation processes, or whether changes are needed to maintain the public’s trust in professional self-regulation. In addition, articles look at the importance of patient well-being in physician professionalism and the role of medical education in fostering that quality among trainees and practicing physicians. Read more…
Read the issue…
Call for volunteers: Judiciary Committee.
June 30 is the last day to submit your application for a position on the Judiciary Committee (two member openings). The Judiciary Committee reports directly to the AAOS Board of Directors, and is responsible for hearing and adjudicating appeals of the Committee on Professionalism Grievance Hearing Panel’s reports, and makes recommendations regarding complaints against AAOS members for alleged violations of the AAOS Standards of Professionalism. Applicants for this position must be active or emeritus fellows with a demonstrated understanding of and experience with legal issues related to orthopaedic surgery, including orthopaedic expert opinion and testimony. Learn more and submit your application…(member login
