Editor's Note On Sunday, August 7, the Senate passed a spending bill allocating billions of dollars to climate reform and healthcare focused programs, including provisions that give “Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices for a small subset of drugs” and extend “enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies” for 3 years,…

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Editor's Note On August 3, ECRI announced the winners of its eleventh annual Healthcare Supply Chain Excellence Award. The award recognizes healthcare organizations that achieve excellence in overall spend management and that adopt best practice solutions into their supply chain processes. The eleven winners are: Broward Health, Fort Lauderdale, Florida…

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Editor's Note The Biden administration will begin a COVID-19 booster campaign for revamped vaccines in September, the New York Times July 28 reports. This new booster is predicted to provide more extensive protection against the Omicron subvariants. Federal officials made the decision that individuals over 50 and those over 12…

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Editor's Note The American Hospital Association (AHA) released part two of a three-part series of its workforce guide focused on strategies, resources, and case studies from hospitals and other health systems, Becker’s Hospital Review July 29 reports. The report, released July 27, is intended to help hospitals and health system…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on July 13, posted a nationwide recall by Hospira Inc (a Pfizer Company) of one lot (DX9067) of Propofol Injectable Emulsion, USP (containing Benzyl alcohol), 100 mL single patient use glass fliptop vial. The recall was initiated because of visible particulate observed…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 28 identified the recall by Covidien, LLC (Medtronic) of its Palindrome and Mahurkar hemodialysis catheters as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of a catheter hub defect that connects both extension catheters. There is a potential…

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Editor's Note The US Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) released a new brief offering tips on how to protect healthcare organizations from basic web application attacks, the American Hospital Association (AHA) July 26 reports. These attacks target patient portals and expose patient…

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Editor’s Note US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra has advanced the existing Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) from a staff division to an operating division, using the new name of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR). ASPR is…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 19 added automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and chest drains/suction canisters and autotransfusion systems to its list of medical device shortages during COVID-19. The shortage of chest drains/suction canisters and autotransfusion systems is because of increased demand. The shortage of AEDs…

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ORs rebounding from the financial impact of COVID-19 are looking for ways to reduce expenses. With rising costs coming from all angles of the economy, some have adopted systemwide processes to reduce, streamline, and improve surgical instrumentation sets. Two major health systems, the Cleveland Clinic and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital…

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