In 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services modified the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule to "strengthen privacy and security protections" while "improving workability and effectiveness to increase flexibility for and decrease burden on regulated entities." In this article, we attempt to translate these generalized goals into the real-world implications of these changes. Under the new rules, researchers can obtain participants' permission to use their protected health information for more research activities with a single, upfront authorization (thereby reducing paperwork for participants, researchers, and institutional review boards) while providing potential participants with more information upon which to base their decisions about participation. The combined authorizations can be used in clinical trials and their optional substudies and in stand-alone biospecimen-banking research that includes authorization to permit future research use. We also suggest best practices for taking advantage of the flexibility offered by the new rules while maintaining strong privacy protections for human subjects.
The study focuses on pemphigus, a rare but serious skin blistering disease linked to multiple genetic factors and an increased risk of other autoimmune disorders.
Researchers analyzed data from 126 million patients, finding 18,000 cases of pemphigus, to explore the relationship between pemphigus and 74 different autoimmune diseases.
Results indicated strong associations between pemphigus and several conditions, including pemphigoid diseases, discoid lupus erythematosus, lichen planus, and undifferentiated connective tissue disease, highlighting the importance of understanding these links across different ethnic groups.
Gout is a painful form of arthritis that can lead to more severe health issues when not properly treated; Pegloticase is a drug used to treat patients who do not respond to standard gout treatments.
A study analyzed data from over 400 patients with chronic uncontrolled gout and found that their condition worsened significantly in the two years leading up to starting pegloticase therapy, with increases in gout-related symptoms and healthcare usage.
The findings suggest that identifying and treating patients sooner could help reduce the complications and healthcare needs associated with uncontrolled gout.
Objective: To evaluate the frequency and factors associated with clip migration in MRI-guided breast biopsies.
Methods: This study was approved by our Institutional Review Board and was compliant with HIPAA. We retrospectively evaluated all MRI-guided biopsies performed between January 2013 and December 2020 in our institution for clip migration.
Introduction Sharp object injuries in the medical field present a considerable occupational hazard for healthcare workers (HCWs), encompassing a spectrum of consequences from immediate discomfort to enduring health consequences. These injuries may expose HCWs to potential infections. Despite efforts to control sharp object injuries in healthcare environments, they are present at every stage involving using or disposing of medical sharp instruments.
Background: To address the pandemic, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) expanded its TRICARE civilian provider network by 30.1%. In 2022, the DHA Annual Report stated that TRICARE's provider directories were only 80% accurate.
