Clinical characteristics, symptom duration in COVID-19 outpatients
Editor's Note This retrospective study from Cooper University Health Care, Camden, New Jersey, finds that the median symptom duration for many COVID-19 outpatients is longer than recommended isolation periods. Of 294 patients analyzed, 178 had documented symptom resolution. The median symptom duration was 15 days. Factors linked to prolonged symptom…
HHS tasked with coordinating federal response to long COVID-19
Editor's Note In a briefing room release titled Memorandum on Addressing the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 published on April 5, President Joe Biden tasked Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra “to coordinate the federal response to the long-term health effects of COVID-19,” the American Hospital Association April 6…
Understanding COVID-19 transmission in HCWs without direct patient care
Editor's Note Using a systems engineering approach to analyze a cluster of COVID-19 in healthcare workers (HCWs) without direct patient care, researchers at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, found both modifiable and nonmodifiable elements of the work system contributed to the cluster. Between October 2 and November 24, 2020, eight…
CMS updates guidance on COVID-19 vaccine mandate for HCWs
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on April 5 released a memorandum and guidance on complying with its interim final rule mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers (HCWs) in facilities that participate in CMS programs. The guidance in the memorandum specifically applies to Texas. On January…
Study: Small percentage of Black individuals are becoming surgeons
Editor's Note A study on the trend of general surgery residency application, matriculation, and graduation for Black trainees over a 13-year period, titled “Examination of Intersectionality and the Pipeline for Black Academic Surgeons” and published by JAMA Surgery on February 9, found that few Black individuals apply to surgery programs…
CMS alert: Eligible individuals can get second COVID-19 booster at no cost
Editor's Note On April 6, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in a news alert that it will pay for a second COVID-19 booster of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines without cost sharing for all eligible individuals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…
Attacks on healthcare in the Ukraine war
Editor's Note As of March 31, there have been 82 attacks on healthcare workers and facilities in Ukraine that have resulted in 72 deaths and 43 injuries, and most attacks involved the use of heavy weapons against healthcare facilities, personnel, patients, and medical supplies, according to this JAMA Viewpoint article,…
Proteins in saliva aid in detecting COVID-19, predicting severe illness
Editor's Note Researchers from the University of Utah Health, who have identified a family of proteins that are significantly elevated in the saliva of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, presented their findings at American Physiological Society annual meeting, held during the Experimental Biology 2022 meeting in Philadelphia April 4. The proteins, named…
CMS issues warnings on price transparency to ‘about’ 345 hospitals
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) told Becker’s that as of March 2022, it has issued “‘about 345’ warning notices to hospitals noncompliant with its price transparency regulations,” Becker’s Hospital CFO Report April 4 reports. CMS’ price transparency rule went into effect on January 1, 2021;…
FDA: Reprocessing changes for certain Karl Storz urological endoscopes
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 4 issued a letter to healthcare providers and users saying the agency is aware that current reprocessing instructions for certain urological endoscopes manufactured by Karl Storz are inadequate and are being updated by the company. In the letter, the FDA…
Free Daily News
- FDA medical device class 1 recalls trend upward
- Data cast doubt on recommendation to delay weight-loss meds prior to surgery
- AAMI guidance covers sterile processing of dilators, ultrasound probes
- Surgical site infections often caused by preexisting bacteria
- The Joint Commission launches new telehealth accreditation program
- FDA announces class 1 recall for disposable biopsy needle kit
- Report: Consistent, purposeful manager-team engagement reduces RN turnover
- Death, hospital readmission less likely for women treated by female doctors
- FDA announces class 1 recalls for infusion pumps, anesthesia workstation
- Study finds workforce readiness gap in new nurses