Reducing noise in the OR improves children’s postop behavior
Editor's Note Reducing noise in the OR positively affects children’s postoperative behavior, according to research presented October 24 at the Anesthesiology 2022 annual meeting in New Orleans. The study, led by researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, included 64 preschool children (ages 4 to 5 years old) having general…
The Joint Commission announces Health Care Equity Resource Center
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on October 26 announced that it has created a Health Care Equity Resource Center to help organizations monitor their progress toward healthcare equity. New healthcare equity accreditation requirements, which will go into effect January 2023, recognize that organizations need established leaders as well as standardized…
Effect of colonoscopy on colorectal cancer, mortality risks
Editor's Note This Norwegian study finds a lower risk of colorectal cancer at 10 years in those who had screening colonoscopy, compared to those with no screening. Of 84,585 participants, 28,220 were invited to have a single screening colonoscopy (11,843 underwent screening), and 56,365 were in the usual care group.…
The Joint Commission will resume certain intracycle calls
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on October 26 that it will resume intracycle calls for Disease-Specific Care (DSC) and Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS) certification programs, starting January 1, 2023. These calls, which were suspended in 2021 because of COVID-19, require programs to update their intracycle tabs in the…
Report: Hospitals will likely experience the worst financial year in decades
Editor's Note On October 25, Health Affairs reported that healthcare systems continue to face challenges in a post-pandemic environment but are likely to have the worst financial year in decades, according to Becker’s Hospital CFO Report October 26. US hospitals saw fluctuations in operating margins in 2022 but are still…
“Legacy Nurse Engagement” survey open until November 1
Editor's Note In order to address the current (and future) nursing shortage, a “Legacy Think Tank” has been established for the purpose of generating viable options to engage retired nurses to play a role in alleviating this shortage. Joanne Oliver, BSN, RN, CNOR, and her team are asking for any…
Variation in treatment, outcomes by race of veterans hospitalized with COVID-19
Editor's Note This study led by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine finds that Black veterans hospitalized with COVID-19 were less likely to be treated with evidence-based treatments than White patients. A total of 43,222 veterans (12,135 Black and 31,087 White) hospitalized with COVID-19 in 130 Veterans Affairs Medical…
FDA: Class I recall of Jiangsu Well Biotech COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 12 identified the recall of Jiangsu Well Biotech’s COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Devices as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because the tests were distributed to US customers without authorization, clearance, or approval from the FDA. No…
Healthcare sector has been victim to 25% of ransomware attacks in 2022
Editor's Note According to data from the FBI, just in 2022, 25% of ransomware attacks have been directed at the healthcare sector, Becker’s Health IT October 26 reports. Common Spirit Health, one of the largest nonprofit hospital systems in the US, is the latest reported victim to a ransomware attack,…
Rise in child RSV cases may cause hospital capacity strain in the winter
Editor's Note A “sharp rise” in cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this fall is worrying staff at US hospitals, who fear what may happen to the capacity of hospitals and other healthcare facilities if RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 infections peak around the same time this winter, The Washington Post…