Timing of major surgery after COVID-19 affects postop mortality
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, finds that patients having major surgical procedures within 8 weeks of a COVID-19 infection have a substantially higher postoperative 90-day mortality, regardless of symptoms. Analyzing data on 938 COVID-19 positive patient cases…
80% of HCWs at California hospital exposed to COVID-19, showing symptoms test positive
Editor's Note Some 80% of healthcare workers (HCWs) at Sonoma Valley Hospital, Sonoma, California, exposed to COVID-19ย or showing symptoms, tested positive the last 2 weeks ofย July, the August 15 Sonoma Index-Tribune reports. A total of 97% of HCWs are fully vaccinated, and the remaining 3% have valid exemptions.…
President Biden signs healthcare bill into law
Editor's Note The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law by President Biden on Tuesday, August 16, at the White House, CBS News August 16 reports. This finalizes a signature piece of legislation aimed at lowering healthcare costs, fighting climate change, and raising taxes on corporations. The Senate passed…
Survey: Most hospitals, health systems are increasing investment in ASCs
Editor's Note In this annual survey published by Avanza Healthcare Strategies and titled โ2021โ2022 Hospital Leadership ASC Survey,โ senior healthcare executives and clinical leaders shared insights into hospital-owned and hospital-physician joint venture ambulatory surgery center (ASC) trends. The responses show that โhospitals and health systems of all sizes are expanding…
COVID-19 risk among HCWs according to patient exposure, mask type
Editor's Note This study from Switzerland finds that COVID-19 positivity in healthcare workers (HCWs) was associated with cumulative patient exposure, which could be modulated with the use of respirator masks. Of 2,919 HCWs included in the study, 749 were infected with COVID-19. Positivity was 13% in HCWs without patient exposure.…
Seven schools, hospitals starting new nursing programs
Editor's Note Seven schools and hospitals have added nursing programs and partnerships to help tackle the US nursing shortage, the August 10 Beckerโs Hospital Review reports. LSU Health New Orleansโ School of Nursing will offer three accelerated courses, beginning in January 2023. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, is constructing a…
First case of polio in US after nearly a decade
Editor's Noteย On Friday, August 12, the New York State Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced that polio (poliomyelitis) was detected in local wastewater, Beckerโs Hospital Review August 15 reports. "For every one case of paralytic polio identified, hundreds more may…
Maternal morbidity associated with delivery during COVID-19
Editor's Note This retrospective cohort study led by researchers at Ascension Health, St Louis, finds that COVID-19 infection is a risk factor for adverse peripartum maternal outcomes. Researchers evaluated the association of COVID-19 with severe maternal morbidities in patients delivering during four pandemic periods characterized by predominant variantsโMarch-December 2020 (wild…
CDC updates COVID-19 guidance
Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on August 11 updated its guidelines for COVID-19. The new recommendations focus on helping people better understand their risks, how to protect themselves and others, what actions to take if exposed, and what actions to take if they test positive…
Simple new test predicts immunity to COVID-19
Editor's Note Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, have developed a simple new paper test that can measure the level of neutralizing antibodies in a blood sample. Using the same type of lateral flow technology that rapid antigen tests use, the new test is designed so that different…