News

DO Spotlight: Dr. James Griffin

James Griffin, DO, immediate Past President of RISOPS provided four years of steady leadership before stepping down in August. Read more...

Legislation

The Rhode Island Society of Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons has voted to sign on and support the following Rhode Island legislative bills:

RI H 7474: Directories be updated every 15 days instead of 30 days to ensure patients receive timely access to covered services
Read our letter of support
RI S 2497: Supporting the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
Read our letter of support
RI S 2498: Including RISOPS on the Collaborative Practice Commitee
Read our letter of support
RI S 2697: This bill seeks osteopathic recognition while supporting behavioral health reform
Read our letter of support

The WHO's Zika Virus Recommendations

Since the World Health Organization's Emergency Committee on Zika virus first met on 1 February, substantial new research has strengthened the association between Zika infection and the occurrence of fetal malformations and neurological disorders. Evidence also suggests that sexual transmission of the virus is more common than previously assumed. Based on these findings the Emergency Committee made Zika virus - new recommendations that include:

Scaling-up research and development, surveillance, vector control, clinical care, and community engagement;
Advice for pregnant women not to travel to areas of ongoing Zika virus outbreaks; and
Advice for pregnant women, whose sexual partners live in or travel to areas with Zika virus outbreaks, to use safe sexual practices or abstain from sex for the duration of their pregnancy (full information for travellers).

—Read all of the Emergency Committee's recommendations —Listen to the full press briefing on the Second Zika Emergency Committee

EBOLA Preparedness Resources

Dear Colleague,

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) continues to work with other U.S. government agencies, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other domestic and international partners in an international response to the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The attached document summarizes key messages about the outbreak and the response. It will be updated as new information becomes available and distributed regularly. Please share this document with others as appropriate.

The following are updated guidance documents available:

Open Letter to All U.S. Healthcare Professionals from Dr. Nicole Lurie, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, regarding the current Ebola situation. – Oct. 3, 2014
Interim Guidance for Environmental Infection Control in Hospitals for Ebola Virus - Updated Oct. 3, 2014
HAN 371: Evaluating Patients for Possible Ebola Virus Disease: Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel and Health Officials – Oct. 2, 2014
Interim Guidance: EMS Systems & 9-1-1 PSAPs: Management of Patients in the U.S. - Updated Oct. 1, 2014
Evaluating Returned Travelers for EVD, U.S. – Oct. 1, 2014
Checklist for Patients Being Evaluated for EVD, U.S. – Oct. 1, 2014
Ebola Screening Criteria Template for EMS – Updated Oct. 1, 2014

CDC/ASPR Checklists:

Webinar Recording Available on Ebola Preparedness for U.S. Health Care System A recording of a recent webinar hosted by ASPR and CDC on Ebola Preparedness for the U.S. health care system is now available for viewing. The webinar focused on the Detailed Hospital Checklist for Ebola Preparedness, which highlights the activities that all hospitals can take to prepare for the possibility of a patient exposed to Ebola arriving for medical care. This information is especially useful for hospital emergency managers, infection control officers, hospital leadership, and clinical staff. The checklist provides practical and specific suggestions to ensure hospitals can detect possible Ebola cases, protect their employees, and respond appropriately.

CDC and ASPR encourage you to visit the CDC Ebola website for the most updated information on the 2014 Ebola response and to share this information with your colleagues and networks.

Sincerely,

Division of Health System Policy
HHS/ASPR/OPP
Thomas P. O’Neill Federal Building
200 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
eccc@hhs.gov

ACGME Update

RI:Visions - The RISOPS Newsletter

Rhode Island Healthcare Industry News

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How to check the status of a bill in Rhode Island

Go to: www.rilin.state.ri.us and you will be on the State of RI General Assembly homepage.
Double click “Bill Status/History” in the left-hand column. You will be on the “General Assembly Bill Status System” page. Double click on “Bill Status/ History” at the top.
In the box entitled “Bills” enter the Bill Number. Bills are 4 digits in length, 0-4999 for Senate bills and bills starting with 5 or getter are house bills.