The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and for many Americans fireworks are an integral part of the celebration. June is Firework Safety Month and the perfect time to brush up in preparation for Independence Day.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, hospitals treat 200 firework-related injuries daily during the months surrounding the Fourth of July. Follow these tips to make sure you and your loved ones have a safe and enjoyable holiday:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite any type of firework—even sparklers burn at temperatures around 2,000 degrees.
• Always have an adult supervise the use of fireworks.

Be sure that any fireworks you purchase are intended for use by the general public.   Read More, download Newsletter

In a recently settled HIPAA case, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) set a new precedent for guarding electronic protected health information (ePHI).

In an extensive investigation, HHS determined that a small surgery practice in Arizona had violated HIPAA privacy rules and had instated few safeguards to protect patients’ ePHI. The practice reportedly posted PHI on an Internet-based, publicly-accessible calendar and sent emails containing PHI to workers’ personal email accounts. Read More, download Newsletter

At the end of March, the U.S. Supreme Court heard six hours of oral arguments regarding the health care reform law. At the center of the debate was the law’s individual mandate, which, beginning in 2014, will require all individuals to purchase health care insurance or pay a penalty.

Opponents of the law argue that an individual mandate is unconstitutional because it forces people to engage in commerce. Proponents maintain that health care is distinguished from other forms of commerce in that the health care costs associated with the uninsured impact everyone and demonstrate the economic effects of not purchasing health coverage.

The Justices are expected to release their decision sometime in June. Though difficult to predict, some potential outcomes include:

• The Justices may decline to review the law, believing that the challenge is premature because the mandate has not taken effect. Read More, download Newsletter

 

May is Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention month, the perfect time to brush up on ways to protect your loved ones, since warmer weather means more time spent soaking up the sun.

Each year, 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed, making it the most common form of cancer in the United States. The good news is that skin cancer is easily cured if detected early, so doctors recommend that you perform a monthly self-examination.

Here’s what to look for:

• A skin growth that increases in size and looks pearly,

translucent, tan, brown, black or multicolored.

• Any brown spot (including moles, birthmarks, etc.) that:

o changes color or texture

o increases in size or thickness

o is irregular in outline

o is larger that . inch

o appears after age 21.

• A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab, errode or bleed.

• An open sore that does not heal within three weeks.

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