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The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration projects a shortage of 20,400 primary care physicians by 2020.

HHS Wants Comments on HIPAA Changes

"We are looking for candid feedback about how the existing HIPAA regulations are working in the real world and how we can improve them," said OCR Director Roger Severino. "We are committed to pursuing the changes needed to improve quality of care and eliminate undue burdens on covered entities while maintaining robust privacy and security protections for individuals' health information."

Trio Safely Rescued from Abandoned WV Mine

The search of the Rock House Powellton Mine in Clear Creek, W.Va., ended successfully Dec. 12, with all three people inside brought out safely.

Safety Alert Addresses Hazards in Fired Vessels

BSEE's targeted inspections identified multiple facilities where the integrity of the flame arrestor and spark arrestor could not be easily inspected, the inspection frequency was not understood by facility personnel, or there was no documentation of inspections.



NRC Meeting Set on Inspection Findings at Alaska Medical Center

The inspection report indicates the special inspection was conducted in response to concerns about "apparent failures," including that occupational workers failed to wear dosimetry, management failed to investigate abnormal dosimetry results, and that management failed to assess outside employment in determining the total occupational exposure of applicable staff.

Locksets Recalled for Entrapment Hazard

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled locksets and contact the firm for instructions on receiving a free replacement lockset. The company has received eight reports of lockset latch failures, but no injuries have been reported.

PG&E Increasing Wildfire Prevention Actions

PG&E said this week that it will expand its system-wide Community Wildfire Safety Program, which was implemented following 2017 wildfires as an additional set of precautionary measures intended to further reduce wildfire threats.

NTSB Cites Ineffective Preventive Maintenance as Probable Cause of Casino Boat Fire

At its meeting Dec. 11 on this investigation, the safety board cited the lack of fire detection in the boat's lazarette as contributing to the spread of the fire.

Coast Guard Rescue Brings Reminder to Winter Mariners

"In the winter, the marine environment is rougher and colder," said David Umberger, command duty officer at the Sector Delaware Bay command center. "This case might not have had such a good outcome if the captain and crew of the Ocean Pearl hadn't been prepared for an emergency. Keeping a properly-registered EPIRB, well-maintained cold-water survival gear, and functioning communications equipment on board your vessel will save your life."

$80 Million Fine Issued to Company for Failing to File Reports on Infections

"Medical device adverse event reporting requirements are designed to protect Americans by providing FDA with a tool to detect potential safety issues. When device manufacturers fail to report adverse events, unsuspecting patients are placed at risk," said FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, M.D.

NYC Working to Overhaul Commercial Waste Collection

The city's private garbage hauling industry has become inefficient in its operation and unsafe. The Commercial Waste Zones plan will eliminate 18 million miles of truck traffic every year, a 63 percent reduction from today, according to Arcadis, the company that completed the plan for New York City's Department of Sanitation.

Worcester Fire Department Mourns Firefighter Lost in Five-Alarm Blaze

Firefighter Christopher J. Roy, 36, died Dec. 9. Seven other career officers from the department have died in December fires in 2011 and 1999.

ASTM F45 Meeting This Week in France

ASTM Committee F45 on Driverless Automatic Guided Industrial Vehicles will hold its eighth bi-annual meeting Dec. 11-12 at Omron Electronics in Annecy-Argonay, France.

OSHA Proposes Revisions to General Industry Beryllium Standard

The proposed changes would clarify the standard and simplify or improve standard compliance.

NIOSH to Develop Online Training on Law Enforcement Shift Work

Once it is finalized, the training program will be available on the NIOSH website. The training will be pilot tested with 30 recent graduates of a police academy and 30 experienced officers, all of whom work full time on fixed night shifts.

Investments Announced in Canadian Institute's Expansion

The NEOMED Institute is a non-profit organization located in Montreal. Its mission includes developing a business ecosystem and innovation networks in the greater Montreal area to boost the development and growth of life sciences and health technology businesses.

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