Editor's Note In this study, researchers from Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, find that face-mask compliance remained suboptimal among healthcare workers (HCWs) despite a facility-wide mandate for universal masking during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of 1,561 observations during a 4-week baseline period after universal masking was mandated, median weekly…

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Editor's Note In a May 18 position statement, ECRI recommends that it’s time to move to a regularly scheduled COVID-19 vaccine booster model. “Moving to a regular vaccine schedule will increase clarity and confidence about what actions to take and when, compared to the current piecemeal, wait-and-see approach,” says Marcus…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on May 18, posted a reminder for organizations to submit applications for the Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Health Equity, an award program in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, by June 30 at 11:59 pm CT. The Award, named in honor…

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Editor's Note In this presentation, Lynn Webb, PhD, assistant dean for faculty development and assistant professor of Medical Education and Administration at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, made a compelling argument for how unprofessional behavior on the part of clinical staff—including OR personnel—has a direct impact on the financial performance of…

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Editor's Note Though new COVID-19 cases linked to the Omicron BA.2 subvariant are dropping, Omicron’s more infectious subvariant BA2.12.1 is beginning to gain a foothold in the US, the May 10 Becker’s Hospital Review reports. Omicron BA2.12.1 now accounts for nearly 43% of new cases as of May 7, compared…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 9 identified the recall by Mesa Biotech, Inc, of certain Accula SARS-CoV-2 Tests as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because certain lots of the PCR test have an increased risk of giving false positive results because…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 5 announced that it has limited the authorized use of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine to those 18 years of age and older for whom other COVID-19 vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate and to those who would…

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Editor's Note A report issued May 2 by the American Nurses Association (ANA) addresses three issues nurses have struggled with for decades—staffing shortages, mandatory overtime, and safety—but, these issues have reached a tipping point in the COVID-19 pandemic, ANA says. ANA notes that: Staff shortages due to cost-cutting, an aging…

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Editor's Note This study, led by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), finds that symptomatic individuals with an initial negative home antigen test should test again 1 to 2 days later because test sensitivity peaks several days after COVID-19 onset. In 225 adults and children with…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association, on April 20, announced the launch of a Comprehensive Heart Attack Center certification program, which recognizes hospitals providing care to the most complex and critically ill patients. To be certified, hospitals must provide 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week on-site coverage for primary percutaneous…

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