Leapfrog: HAIs increased during COVID-19 pandemic
Editor's Note The Leapfrog Group, on May 3, announced that its new Hospital Safety Grade shows a significant increase in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, spiking to a 5-year high and remaining high. Their analysis found that the average: Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) ratio increased 60% Methicillin-resistant…
New American Cancer Society report finds favorable, unfavorable trends during COVID-19
Editor's Note The American Cancer Society, on May 2, announced new research that discovered both favorable and unfavorable changes in major cancer risk factors, preventive behaviors and services, and screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the favorable side, smoking, physical inactivity, and heavy alcohol consumption declined, and human papillomavirus vaccination…
Impact of program to improve nurses’ skills in confronting ethical challenges
Editor's Note This study by nurse researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, examines the long-term impact on nurses who completed an experiential educational program to improve their skills in mindfulness, resilience, and competence in confronting ethical challenges. The program called the Mindful Ethical Practice and Resilience Academy…
ACS: May is national STOP THE BLEED month
Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) announced May 1 that throughout the month of May it will promote STOP THE BLEED in collaboration with the Chicago Cubs, City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), and programming to educate and empower the public to learn simple…
APIC creates ‘Playbooks’ to help fight emerging infectious diseases
Editor's Note The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) announced May 1 that it has created a series of ‘Playbooks’ to help infection preventionists (IPs) and epidemiologists operationalize prevention efforts to help fight emerging infectious diseases. The pathogen-specific playbooks outline recommended practices for outbreak response, including: Pathogen…
ANA: May is National Nurses Month
Editor's Note The American Nurses Association (ANA) is launching its annual month-long celebration that allows for greater opportunities to promote understanding and appreciation of nurses. The month is divided into four weekly focus areas—Self-Care, Recognition, Professional Development, and Community Engagement. As part of this month of recognition, National Nurses Week…
Physician vs AI chatbot responses to patient questions
Editor's Note This study, led by researchers at the University of California San Diego, La Jolla, finds that an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot assistant can provide responses to patient questions that are of comparable quality and empathy to those of physicians. A total of 195 randomly drawn patients’ medical questions…
COVID-19 subvariant trends, updates
Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, also referred to as Arcturus, accounted for nearly 12% of COVID-19 cases in the US last week, and another relative, XBB.1.9.1 is responsible for 9% of cases, as of April 29, the April 28…
New diversity research grant from NIH open to applications
Editor's Note The National Institutes of Health (NIH) program, titled “Research With Activities Related to Diversity” (ReWARD) is now accepting grant applications, the American Hospital Association April 27 reports. The earliest submission deadline is May 5, and the final deadline for the first 6-month cycle is June 5. Applications can…
Device significantly improves bulk-packaged ECG electrode expiration tracking compliance
Editor's Note A study led by researchers at Icahn School of Medicine in Mount Sinai, New York, finds use of a timed storage and dispensing device for bulk-packaged electrocardiography (ECG) electrodes significantly improves compliance. The study included seven operating rooms (ORs) that used a bin with an automated countdown timer…