Healthcare Law Term

Reply to the two responses.
Your replies should offer a substantive response to the posts to encourage more
engagement and interaction. Include one reference for each response.

Response CB #1
I chose Food and Drug
Administration as I am closely connected with their regulations throughout my
healthcare career. I used to work for a device manufacturer and the FDA was
always on our minds – especially during a new product release. There are many
tests that are performed before a new medical device reaches market for use.
The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for “protecting the public
health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary
drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of
our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.”
How does all this relate to healthcare? The FDA will make sure
that each medical device (among many other products) is safe for clinical use
by verifying that certain laboratory tests are performed and verified for
certain criteria (Northup, 1999). The tests that will be conducted are:
biocompatibility test which includes cytotoxity, sensitization, irritation,
systemic toxicity, implantation compatibility, genotoxicity, hemocompatibility,
carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, degradation, and finally sterilization
and process residues.
The FDA is heavily involved with regulation of these products to
make sure that the public stays safe and there are no adverse consequences to
using said products. The last test, sterilization and process residues, is
directly related to the department I work in as we sterilize many different
instruments for surgical procedures. These must be rendered free from
microorganisms to be safely used on our patients. Most of the items we
sterilize are made of high-grade surgical steel, but there are many products
and materials. A few are: plastics, glass, certain types of fabric, silicone,
etc. Each product must meet minimum standards set up by governing bodies and
the FDA will enforce these regulations (Northup, 1999). They must also have
specific guidelines on how to clean and effectively sterilize these devices.

Response RP #2
For this discussion I
researched the term Administration on Aging.
Having older parents this term caught my attention.
Although I was aware of the Medicare, and Social Security as programs that look
specifically at healthcare and sustainable (used loosely) income for the
retired population I was not familiar with an agency that was formed specific
for the older population.
In the 1960’s, along with President Lyndon
Johnson’s Great Society reforms that included the Civil Rights Act was another
law that looked to address the lack of community social services for older
persons. This law signed by Congress on July 14, 1965, was known as the Older
Americans Act of 1965. To administer and oversee the programs created by
the law the office of Administration on Aging (AOA) was established within the
Department of Health, Education and Welfare (todays Department of Health and
Human Services), serving as a main agency in issues relating to older persons (Adminstration
for Communituy Living, 2021).
In addition to the various offices that are
maintained under the AOA there are specific programs that are beneficial the
health and wellbeing of seniors, as well as healthcare providers. Specifically,
the program of Aging and Disability Evidence-Based Programs and Practices
educate the public on available options that best meet their needs. Behavioral
health programs to offer wellbeing resources for seniors, disabled and their
caregivers. Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSMP) programs to educate
the older population in managing chronic conditions such as diabetes. There are
other programs that look at education in fall prevention, elder abuse,
nutrition, Medicare improvements, dementia, and legal assistance (Administration
for Community Living, 2017). One important area to note
is that the funding used for health prevention and promotion activities is only
granted to evidence-based programs. Programs like the previously
mentioned CDSMP look to achieve improvement in patient experience, population
health, and healthcare cost while improving individual lives (Boutaugh
& Lawrence, 2015).
My opinion as how this term relates to healthcare
law is as follows. By promoting evidence-based programs and education
there are guidelines as to the standard of care when it comes to treating our
elderly population. While the programs help to empower it also provides
education for caregivers to recognize fall risks, dementia, malnourishment, and
abuse. As a legal resource and federal advocate for the older population the
AOA can be quite challenging when it comes to acceptable standards of care,
negligence, and medical malpractice as it relates to the Older Americans Act.
Any healthcare provider, caregiver, and administrator would be best served by
understanding the Older Americans Act and the role of the AOA.

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