Editor's Note This study, led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, finds that air flush cycles used in automated endoscope reprocessors (AERs) may not adequately dry endoscope channels, particularly narrow air/water channels. Endoscopes were reprocessed per protocol with a 3-minute or 10-minute air flush following reprocessing.…

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Editor's Note This April 24 report from Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London explains how giving a little extra attention to any one of four components of good health—sleeping enough, eating well, exercising, and coping with stress—can improve the others. It all begins in the brain with stress. If the brain…

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Editor's Note The US State Department will not accept any more applications for green cards for foreign nurses this year, and only applications that were submitted by June 2022 will be processed until the backlog eases, the April 24 Becker’s Clinical Leadership & Infection Control reports. Current green card processing…

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Editor's Note Your insight can help shape future educational content from OR Manager! We understand the challenges you face as an OR leader in the transforming healthcare landscape. To better understand your experiences, educational needs, and overall job satisfaction, OR Manager surveys perioperative leaders through our annual Salary/Career Survey. The 2023…

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Editor's Note Training and retention of staff is a top priority among healthcare leaders today, as increased healthcare demand and staff shortages continue to affect facilities across the country. Most recently, Geisinger, as well as Lutheran Medical Center and  Houston Methodist Hospital have introduced and expanded educational and cross-training programs…

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Editor's Note In this study, Canadian researchers succeeded in isolating infectious particles of the COVID-19 virus from air samples collected from hospital rooms. A total of 30 samples were collected from 10 different rooms of patients with COVID-19 and then frozen in a biobank for 14 months. The researchers were…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on April 19, posted the Top 5 requirements and corresponding elements of performance (EPs) identified most frequently as “not compliant” during surveys and reviews in 2022. The Top 5 for Hospitals have to do with: Implementing infection control activities when performing intermediate and high-level disinfection…

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Editor's Note This pilot study from the Indiana University School of Medicine finds that peer-support groups can be beneficial in reducing healthcare worker (HCW) stress and burnout. A total of 24 emergency department physicians participated in the study. The researchers evaluated the effects of 8 weeks of virtual, group-based peer…

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Editor's Note In a letter, the American Hospitals Association, on April 19, announced its support for the reintroduction of the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees Act (H.R. 2584), which would give healthcare workers legal protections against assault and intimidation similar to that of flight crews and airport workers. The…

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Editor's Note This study from Finland examines the associations between nurse understaffing and limited work experience on the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Patient and staff data from 40 care units and 261,067 admissions in one hospital district in Finland were analyzed. The researchers found that 1- or 2-day exposure…

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