More than 200 data breaches have been reported at hospitals across the United States during the last 7 years, highlighting the increasing frequency of cybersecurity attacks nationwide.
“Broad access to health information, essential for hospitals’ quality improvement efforts and research and education needs, inevitably increases risks for data breaches and makes ‘zero breach’ an extremely challenging objective,” Ge Bai, PhD, CPA, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, and colleagues wrote in a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Congress probes Allergan’s patent deal with Native American tribe
Allergan’s patent-protection deal with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is under scrutiny from Congress, as the legislative body begins research into the agreement.
Allergan recently transferred its patents for Restasis (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05%) to the New-York based Native American tribe, which has sovereign immunity. Allergan will maintain exclusive licenses to the patents while paying the Saint Regis tribe $15 million annually.
A letter from members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to Brent Saunders, Allergan chairman, president and CEO, requests all
ACP: Increased Medicare Advantage transparency will reduce burdens, confusion
In a new policy paper, the American College of Physicians encouraged Medicare Advantage to increase transparency and better align plans to diminish excessive and burdensome administrative tasks on clinicians, as well as confusion among patients.
“As enrollment in Medicare Advantage [MA] plans increases, there is a growing interest in understanding the differences in care delivery, quality, resource utilization and cost between MA and traditional Medicare,” Jack Ende, MD, MACP, president of American College of Physicians (ACP), said in a press release. “If MA plans were to
Omeros settles Omidria patent infringement suit against Par
Par Pharmaceutical will have to wait until 2032 to begin marketing a generic version of Omeros’ Omidria, according to a settlement the two companies agreed to after a 3-day trial.
Omeros sued Par after the latter company filed an abbreviated new drug application with the FDA in 2015 to market a generic version of Omidria (phenylephrine 1% and ketorolac 0.3% injection), a press release from Omeros said. The company claimed Par would infringe on its Orange Book-listed patents by marketing a generic version.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, (Read more...)
Ophthalmologists prescribe fewer opioids than peer physicians
Ophthalmologists, as a whole, prescribe opioids with discretion, according to a study.
An analysis of Medicare Part D prescriber data found that between 2013 and 2015 the majority of ophthalmologist (88.8%) wrote fewer than 10 opioid prescriptions per year, while 1% prescribed more than 100 per year. The remaining 10.2% wrote between 11 and 100 opioid prescriptions per year.
Furthermore, ophthalmologists typically prescribed only a 5-day supply of opioids, which showed “appropriate discretion,” the study authors said. In keeping with the national trend for all physicians,
Aerie acquires PRINT technology from Envisia
Aerie Pharmaceuticals has acquired the rights to Envisia Therapeutics’ PRINT technology, according to an Aerie press release.
The PRINT technology system creates sustained-release products utilizing fully scalable manufacturing processes, the release said. Aerie plans to use it to “accelerate the advancement of its pipeline to treat conditions in the back of the eye,” including wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Aerie initially will use the technology to make injectable implants containing AR-13154, its preclinical product candidate.
Additionally,
Aerie acquires PRINT technology from Envisia
Aerie Pharmaceuticals has acquired the rights to Envisia Therapeutics’ PRINT technology, according to an Aerie press release.The PRINT technology system creates sustained-release products utilizing fully scalable manufacturing processes, the release said. Aerie plans to use it to “accelerate the advancement of its pipeline to treat conditions in the back of the eye,” including wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
BroadSpot Imaging completes $7.5 million in Series A funding
BroadSpot Imaging has secured $7.5 million in Series A funding to develop its suite of low-cost, high-efficiency imaging devices and software services, according to a press release.
Phoenix Venture Partners led the financing, joined by Camino Real Capital Partners, the release said.
“We are extremely pleased to have the support of Phoenix Venture Partners. Their partners bring more than capital, offering strategic and operational advice as well as value chain connections helpful in fostering BroadSpot’s organizational progress through product development to commercial success,”
BroadSpot Imaging completes $7.5 million in Series A funding
BroadSpot Imaging has secured $7.5 million in Series A funding to develop its suite of low-cost, high-efficiency imaging devices and software services, according to a press release.Phoenix Venture Partners led the financing, joined by Camino Real Capit…
Communication-and-resolution programs may avert lawsuits from medical errors
Communication-and-resolution programs that encourage clinicians to explain facts and offer apologies for the medical error in patient injury cases did not increase lawsuits and may help prevent medical malpractice litigation, according to findings published in Health Affairs.
“Despite widespread adoption of tort reforms in the United States, concerns persist about the liability system’s effects on the cost of health care and on patients and physicians involved in adverse events,” Michelle M. Mello, JD, PhD, from Stanford Law School and Stanford University School of Medicine,
Communication-and-resolution programs may avert lawsuits from medical errors
Communication-and-resolution programs that encourage clinicians to explain facts and offer apologies for the medical error in patient injury cases did not increase lawsuits and may help prevent medical malpractice litigation, according to findings published in Health Affairs.“Despite widespread adoption of tort reforms in the United States, concerns persist about the liability system’s effects on the cost of health care and on patients and physicians involved in adverse events,” Michelle M. Mello, JD, PhD, from Stanford Law School and Stanford University School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote. “In response, there has (Read more...)
Combined and sequential procedures with phaco, vitrectomy yield similar results
Surgery for idiopathic epiretinal membrane is equally effective when pars plana vitrectomy and cataract surgery are performed sequentially or in combination, according to a study. However, the authors highlighted some differences they found in the foll…
Combined and sequential procedures with phaco, vitrectomy yield similar results
Surgery for idiopathic epiretinal membrane is equally effective when pars plana vitrectomy and cataract surgery are performed sequentially or in combination, according to a study. However, the authors highlighted some differences they found in the foll…
The dos and don’ts of glued IOLs
Secondary IOL implantation is often carried out during IOL exchange surgery or for the correction of aphakia. A recent study reported that although the absolute number of secondary IOL procedures increased from 2000 to 2013, the 5-year risk for surgery…
Stricter drug compounding regulations complicate ophthalmology care
In 2012, New England Compounding Center released a batch of methylprednisolone tainted with fungus that resulted in an outbreak of fungal meningitis. After it was confirmed that the outbreak was caused by the compounded drug, the FDA imposed new regula…
Young woman referred for inferior visual field defect
A 23-year-old female preschool teacher was referred to the New England Eye Center by an outside ophthalmologist for evaluation of a new inferior visual field defect of the left eye. Over the preceding week, the patient noticed waxing and waning blurrin…
What Burning Man taught me about ophthalmic practice management
“[Burning Man] is like a cross between Vatican ceremony, Cirque du Soleil and a necro-erotic cannibal mantis mating ritual.” Bruce Sterling
“Human beings are flawed and complicated and messy.” Brit Marling
“I like messy. What fun is tidy?” Dasha Zhukova
Burning Man, an annual, temporary flash city of 70,000 splendidly artistic, variously intoxicated, citizens is coming to a fiery climax on a dry lakebed east of Reno, Nevada, as this column goes to press.
Burning Man has grown up. There were only 25,000 of us 14 years ago, the first (Read more...)
The dos and don’ts of glued IOLs
Secondary IOL implantation is often carried out during IOL exchange surgery or for the correction of aphakia. A recent study reported that although the absolute number of secondary IOL procedures increased from 2000 to 2013, the 5-year risk for surgery…
Stricter drug compounding regulations complicate ophthalmology care
In 2012, New England Compounding Center released a batch of methylprednisolone tainted with fungus that resulted in an outbreak of fungal meningitis. After it was confirmed that the outbreak was caused by the compounded drug, the FDA imposed new regula…
Young woman referred for inferior visual field defect
A 23-year-old female preschool teacher was referred to the New England Eye Center by an outside ophthalmologist for evaluation of a new inferior visual field defect of the left eye. Over the preceding week, the patient noticed waxing and waning blurrin…