First Healthcare Compliance CONNECT February 2022

CONNECT 

February 2022 

 

A Monthly Publication for the Healthcare Compliance Community 

FAQ Corner: 

Do we need to keep a log 

of sample medications 

dispensed to patients? 

Infographic: 

10 Common OSHA 

Violations in the 

Healthcare Setting 

What is OSHA 

Compliance Training? 

Welcome to our Newest 

Editorial Council Members 

1st Talk Compliance: 

Fraud, Healthcare, COVID-19 

and the False Claims Act

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In This Issue: 

Compliance Super Ninja 

FAQ Corner: Do we need to keep a log of 

sample medications dispensed to patients? 

Infographic: 10 Common OSHA Violations in 

the Healthcare Setting 

What is OSHA Compliance Training? 

2 

First Healthcare Compliance, LLC © 2022

Compliance Super Ninja 

Lisa Filler, HR Generalist 

Elevate Women’s Health 

How would you describe your experience with First 

Healthcare Compliance? 

1st Compliance is very thorough and adaptive to the changing times especially 

with the new COVID regulations. I have really enjoyed their expertise. 

What do you enjoy most about working with The Women’s Health Group? 

Women’s Health is a passion of mine. This entire group from the top down makes sure women are taken care 

of and are the highest priority of our day. 

Would you rather be a superhero or the world’s best chef? Why? 

HMMMMMM this is a hard one. I am going with the chef! Feeding the family and them loving the meal is the 

best feeling! Not to mention toddlers eat nothing lol. 

Welcome to our Newest Editorial Council 

Members 

Honoring Our 2021 Presenter of the Year 

Contact Toll Free: 888-54-FIRST 3

FAQ Corner 

Do we need to keep a log of sample medications dispensed to patients? 

Yes. Your organization should have a process for managing all medications received and dispensed to track 

outdated and recalled medications and to be able to trace back dispensed medications. 

All sample medications received from pharmaceutical companies must be documented in an inventory log. 

A patient distribution log should be used to track medications that are dispensed to patients. We provide 

sample logs for this purpose in the document library of the Quarterly zone. 

In addition, medications must be stored in a secure area to prevent unauthorized access and all 

manufacturer recommendations regarding storage should be followed. Click here for our blog on the 

subject. 

Explore the FAQs tab in your compliance solution 

to find answers to your compliance questions! 

CLIENT 

ALERT 

The Most Comprehensive 

Healthcare Compliance Course 

The Fundamentals is a user-friendly, four-module 

online course designed to help healthcare professionals 

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4 



What is OSHA Compliance Training? 

First Healthcare Compliance Staff 

Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration, more commonly known as OSHA, 

following the passage of the Occupational Safety 

and Health Act of 1970 to enforce workplace laws 

and standards, as well as provide training, outreach, 

education and assistance. 

OSHA coverage extends to most private sector employers 

and their workers. For this article, we’re going to focus 

on the healthcare sector and how employers can 

maintain a safe working environment for their employees. 

Worker Safety in Hospitals 

Did you know that a hospital is one of the most 

hazardous places to work? In 2019, U.S. hospitals 

recorded 221,400 work-related injuries and illnesses, 

which is almost twice the rate for the private industry. 

There are several reasons for this, including the 

manual lifting of patients, caregiver fatigue, exposure 

to chemicals and drugs, exposure to communicable or 

infectious diseases, violence, and stress. These injuries 

and illnesses come at a high cost for the healthcare 

injury. 

To create safe working conditions and decrease the 

number of injuries and illnesses in hospitals and 

healthcare facilities, healthcare employers must comply 

with OSHA regulations. Learning about these guidelines 

through OSHA compliance training is imperative. 

What Is Included in Healthcare Employee 

OSHA Training? 

Employers must develop a comprehensive training 

program and provide employees with annual training. 

Training content must be up-to-date and aligned with the 

U.N. Globally Harmonized System of Classification and 

Labeling of chemicals (GHS). 

New employees must be informed about the hazardous 

chemicals they will potentially be exposed to during the 

workday and receive additional training whenever there 

are changes to existing chemical hazards and/or new 

hazardous chemicals are brought into the workplace. 

Employee training should include a detailed explanation 

of the GHS label requirements and the 16-section Safety 

Data Sheet format. Employees must also know where 

Safety Data Sheets are kept in the workplace so that 

6 


they can find them quickly in the event of an emergency. 

Training should also instruct on methods to detect the 

presence or release of hazardous chemicals. 

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, OSHA 

has the authority to issue workplace health and safety 

regulations known as OSHA Standards. There are nine 

OSHA standards that are most frequently addressed 

regarding the healthcare industry. 

• The Hazard Communication Standard 

• Bloodborne Pathogens Standard 

• Ionizing Radiation Standard 

• Emergency Action Plan Standard 

• Fire Safety Standard 

• Medical and First Aid Standard 

• Personal Protective Equipment Standard 

• Exit Routes Standard 

• Electrical Safety Standard 

Where Can You Receive OSHA Training? 

Healthcare employers can receive OSHA training from 1st 

Healthcare Compliance. The module includes the OSHA 

standards that healthcare providers must comply with, 

as well as the consequences of OSHA violations and a 

plan for OSHA compliance. Our 1stPrep training solution 

includes a library with hundreds of modules and a virtual 

training log which is helpful in case of an audit. 

Furthermore, First Healthcare Compliance offers 

comprehensive compliance management software that 

will help your healthcare organization stay in compliance 

with OSHA, HIPAA and fraud, waste, and abuse laws. 

With our flexible, scalable software, you’re able to 

share, track and manage compliance, as well as view 

compliance status across all locations in real time. 

Have the peace of mind that your healthcare organization 

is compliant in all federal healthcare regulatory areas. 

Contact us today and learn how we can help you stay 

current in OSHA training for employees and more. 

COVID-19 Healthcare 

Compliance Updates 

In response to the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus 

disease (COVID-19), the Secretary of Health and Human 

Services declared a public health emergency on January 31, 

2020. Federal agencies have taken action by issuing updates 

and guidance to navigate the crisis. This ebook provides 

healthcare providers with important developments and 

resources that impact federal healthcare laws. 

DOWNLOAD NOW 


Welcome to our Newest 

Editorial Council Members 

Catherine Short 

The First Healthcare Compliance team 

aspires to excellence in healthcare 

compliance education, and we’re honored 

to serve as a trusted resource for 

thousands of compliance professionals, 

healthcare administrators, providers, and 

business associates throughout the United 

States. Our growing Editorial Council 

provides collaborative expertise in a broad 

range of complex topics. Please join us in 

welcoming our two newest members of 

this impressive Editorial Council. 

employee terminations—with the goal of avoiding 

litigation before it begins. Her counseling practice 

includes handbook revisions, effective policy 

implementation, and on-site training on legal 

compliance. 

Lauren has developed and conducts specialized 

in-house training for emerging legal issues 

including the pregnancy, reproductive rights, 

and family care provisions of the Delaware 

Discrimination in Employment Act. One of her 

current programs outlines the complexities of the 

Lauren Moak Russell 

Lauren specializes in the representation of employers 

on a range of issues relating to compliance with 

local, state, and federal labor and employment 

laws and constitutional provisions. She provides 

compassionate and responsive counsel, targeted at 

achieving client goals while minimizing cost and risk. 

Lauren emphasizes client counseling—on issues 

ranging from wage and hour compliance, to 

workplace training and investigations, to effective 

8 


#MeToo movement and offers executives essential 

information on harassment avoidance and modifying 

corporate culture. Lauren also conducts high-level 

investigations of discrimination and harassment on 

behalf of employers. 

When litigation becomes necessary, Lauren is a 

dedicated advocate, aggressively pursuing her clients’ 

best interests and providing clear guidance at each 

stage of the proceeding. Lauren has litigated a wide 

variety of employment-related matters to successful 

resolutions, including employment discrimination, 

non-competition, and constitutional law cases. 

Lauren has experience in each of Delaware’s state 

and federal courts, as well as the U.S. Court of 

Appeals for the Third Circuit. Lauren also regularly 

assists clients in administrative proceedings before 

state and federal administrative agencies, including 

the EEOC, the Delaware Office of Anti-Discrimination, 

and the Delaware Unemployment Insurance Appeals 

Board. 

corporate guidance to clients. She has advised 

clients on state professional licensure laws, CLIA 

standards, state laboratory laws, government and 

private payor reimbursement policies and billing 

rules, federal and state fraud and abuse rules and 

regulations, state telehealth laws, and HIPAA rules 

and regulations. She has provided assistance to 

entities during licensure and accreditation surveys, 

government investigations, and through payor audits 

and disputes. 

In addition to providing regulatory guidance to 

clients, Liz is also knowledgeable in evaluating how 

a business opportunity or arrangement implicates 

a provider’s unique regulatory framework. Liz has 

counseled clients not only on the regulatory aspects 

of an arrangement as described above, but she 

is also experienced in reviewing and negotiating 

relevant contractual and legal documentation 

in connection with contemplated business 

arrangements. 

Elizabeth Sullivan 

Liz is Chair of McDonald Hopkins’ national Healthcare 

Practice Group and a member of the firm’s Board 

of Directors. She began her legal career in the 

Healthcare Practice group at McDonald Hopkins and 

later served as an attorney in the legal department at 

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation before returning to 

McDonald Hopkins as a member. 

While at the Cleveland Clinic, Liz provided regulatory 

advice and transactional guidance to various service 

lines, including the clinical laboratory, professional 

pathology, imaging, transplant, and remote and 

distance health teams. Over the course of her 

career, Liz has assisted various types of healthcare 

providers, including clinical laboratories, hospitals, 

physician specialty groups, telehealth providers, 

transplant centers, and surgery centers. 

Liz has experience providing regulatory, licensing, 

compliance, reimbursement, contractual, and 

Liz earned a J.D. and Certificate of Advanced Studies 

in Health Law from the University of Pittsburgh 

School of Law, an M.A. in Bioethics and a B.A., 

cum laude, in Political Science from Case Western 

Reserve University. 


Honoring Our 2021 

Presenter of the Year 

Catherine Short 

Each year several thousand healthcare 

compliance professionals rely on First 

Healthcare Compliance complimentary 

online education to supplement their 

knowledge base and stay up to date. 

We’re honored to collaborate with 

talented presenters, and we recognize the 

presenter of the most popular live webinar 

annually. 

During 2021 Melody W. Mulaik, a trusted member 

of the First Healthcare Compliance Editorial Council 

was featured on our podcast 1st Talk Compliance 

and shared expertise with webinars AUC Delayed but 

not Gone and the extremely popular 1,2,3’s of Billing, 

Coding, and Auditing. 

Melody W. Mulaik is the President of Revenue 

Cycle Coding Strategies. She is a frequent speaker 

and author for nationally recognized professional 

organizations and publications. Melody’s areas 

of expertise include coding and compliance, 

management engineering, operations improvement 

and she is nationally recognized for her extensive 

radiology expertise. 

Melody often 

speaks at national 

conferences on many 

topics including 

Interventional and 

Diagnostic Radiology 

coding, Internal Audit 

Program Development, 

Coding Compliance 

and other healthcare 

compliance 

issues. Recent speaking engagements include the 

Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), 

AHRA: The Association for Imaging Management, 

Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA), 

Healthcare Billing Management Association (HBMA) 

and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). 

Melody is the AHRA liaison to the American College of 

Radiology (ACR) Economics Commission and her firm, 

RCCS, serves as consulting support for the Society of 

Interventional Radiology (SIR). 

Melody is a frequent author for national publications 

and writes the bi-monthly coding column for AHRA’s 

Radiology Management and the Healthcare Billing 

10 


Management Association’s (HBMA) Billing. Her work 

has also appeared in RT Image, Imaging Economics, 

Radiology Today, and Radiology Business Journal. 

Melody co-authored Revenue Cycle Coding Strategies’ 

Coding Guides for Diagnostic Radiology and 

Interventional Radiology. 

Prior to her current position, Melody held the position 

of Vice President of Billing Compliance for the largest 

national billing company, where she was responsible 

for the implementation, oversight, and maintenance of 

the billing compliance program. 

Melody holds a Master of Science in Health 

Systems (MSHS) degree and a Bachelor of Industrial 

Engineering (BIE) degree, both from the Georgia 

Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), in Atlanta, 

Georgia. She also holds the professional certification 

of Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA), Certified 

Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Coder 

(COC) and Radiology Certified Coder (RCC), and 

Radiology Certified Coder – Interventional (RCC-IR). 

Melody has achieved Fellow status with the AHRA 

(FAHRA) and is a recent recipient of the prestigious 

AHRA Gold Award for her organizational and industry 

contributions. 

C. Trey Scott, Coordinating Attorney at 

COVID-19 Healthcare 

Kennedy, Attorneys & Counselors at Law 

will present Under Pressure: Reporting 

Compliance 

Appeals 

Toolkit 

for the Fifth Circuit. 

Requirements with OCR for Breaches at the 

upcoming Virtual HIPAA Privacy and Security 

Summit 2021 Healthcare on November compliance 18. amidst COVID-19 Summit! presents new challenges 

for hospitals and healthcare providers. At top importance is the 

Trey received his Bachelor of Science and Master of 

Business degrees 

question 

from Texas 

of 

Tech 

how 

University 

to slow 

and his 

or stop the spread of COVID-19, while 

ensuring that your organization stays compliant. 

Juris Doctorate from Texas Wesleyan University School 

of Law (now Texas A&M University School of Law.) While 

in law school, Trey was Now a member more than of the ever, arbitration your compliance department needs to have the 

necessary tools to help track, analyze, and respond to compliance challenges. 

competition team as well as a student bar association 

To help navigate the process, we’ve gathered our best COVID-19 resources 

representative. He also was a law clerk to the 106th 

below. If you need further assistance, please contact us here. 

District Court of the State of Texas. Trey has significant 

experience in healthcare law. This experience includes: 

medical malpractice litigation, administrative and 

regulatory appeals and disputes, professional board 

VIEW TOOLKIT 

United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, 

Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas. Trey is also 

licensed to practice before the United States Court of 

Click here for more information or to register for the 

matters, and overpayment disputes. Trey is licensed to 

practice law before Texas State Courts as well as the 


Risk Management Considerations for 

the Healthcare Compliance Officer: 

Training, Incident Management, Governing Boards, 

and Measures Unique to COVID-19 

It’s no secret that healthcare is one of America’s most heavily regulated 

industries with substantial fines and penalties for non-compliance. Complex 

regulations and mandates make compliance management a necessity. 

Healthcare organizations particularly rely on the skills and attributes of their 

compliance officer to navigate the expansive regulatory framework. 

DOWNLOAD NOW 

12 


Referral Appreciation Program 

Receive a $50 gift card* when you refer a client! 

First Healthcare Compliance is delighted to offer 

a Referral Appreciation Program to say thank you 

for helping us to continue to grow. For each new 

1st Professional or 1st Premium client originating 

from a referral, First Healthcare Compliance will 

provide a $50 gift card as a token of appreciation. 

LEARN MORE 

Healthcare 

Compliance 

Symposium 

Early Bird 

Tickets 

Available 

now 

April 28, 2022 

REGISTER NOW 


hosted by Catherine Short 

Catherine Short speaks with Shauna Itri, Partner at Seeger Weiss LLP on the topic of “Fraud, Healthcare, 

COVID-19 and the False Claims Act.” A whistleblower or qui tam action can provide financial rewards to 

individuals who have information that a company/individual has committed fraud. The primary statutes under 

which this relief may be sought are the federal and state False Claims Acts (“FCAs”). In addition to the FCAs, 

there are other statutes which apply to tax fraud, securities fraud, and in California, fraud on private insurance 

companies. This episode will provide an overview of the False Claims Acts, the knowledge and skills to be 

able to recognize a potential whistleblower case, and understand the unique procedures utilized in filing 

whistleblower cases/tips. We will also delve into recent trends in cases brought (or that could be brought) 

under the False Claims Act including cases involving mined data and potential fraud related to COVID-19. 

Listen weekdays at 

7:30am, 3:30pm, 11:30pm ET 

Check out our Show Page! 

Looking for the latest compliance insights? 

Subscribe to our feed and don’t miss a thing! 

14 


WORD SEARCH 

G J Q G M C S T Z D O E B Z H W L A G E 

V Q H F C X L H Z C A C D G F D C S S T 

Q V V Q D L B S G G Y I E N P C N L K A 

N R E G U L A T I O N T V O R D Q A N N 

B L T I C H S U D Z C C I L O R K T J O 

J L Z B O B X U P D G A S W F L E I H I 

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HEALTHCARE COMPLIANCE COMPREHENSIVE 

PROFESSIONAL DIAGNOSTIC CODING 

ADMINISTRATORS PRACTICE COMPASSIONATE 

CULTURE REGULATION HOSPITALS 

PHYSICIAN REIMBURSEMENT FRAMEWORK 


Upcoming and On-Demand Webinars 

Training 

MAR 15, 2021 

Under Pressure: Reporting Requirements with OCR for 

Breaches 

Register 

ON DEMAND 

Hardware Hacking Trends - The Insecurity of Everything 

All Upcoming Webinars 

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NEW FEATURES! 

HIPAA Zone - New Documents and Updated 

Policies are available in the HIPAA Zone Resources 

Tab 

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as well as for your Managers and 

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for details. 

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First Healthcare Compliance CONNECT February 2022

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