The Joint Commission asks HCWs to remain masked while interacting with surveyors, reviewers
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on May 11, announced that surveyors and reviewers will remain masked, adhere to social distancing, and follow other Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines while onsite at an organization. The Joint Commission asks that healthcare workers (HCWs) and organization staff also remain masked while…
COVID-19 linked to ICU admissions of children, adolescents with self-harm
Editor's Note This Australian study finds that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant increase in ICU admissions of children and adolescents with deliberate self-harm. Of 813 study patients aged 12 to 17 years, 230 (15.2%) were admitted during the first 15 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the…
The Joint Commission posts Top 5 most challenging requirements for 2021
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on May 11, posted the Top 5 requirements that were most frequently identified as “not compliant” during surveys and reviews in 2021. The Top 5 for Hospitals were: IC.02.02.01 EP 2: The hospital reduces the risk of infections associated with medical equipment, devices, and supplies.…
Downstream effects of COVID-19 generated surgical backlog
Editor's Note Delayed elective surgical procedures because of COVID-19 resulted in more emergency department (ED) visits and the need for urgent interventions for gallstone disease but not inguinal hernias, this Canadian study finds. Researchers identified 74,709 elective cholecystectomies and 60,038 elective inguinal hernia repairs. During COVID-19 first and second waves…
Omicron BA.2.12.1 subvariant gaining a foothold
Editor's Note Though new COVID-19 cases linked to the Omicron BA.2 subvariant are dropping, Omicron’s more infectious subvariant BA2.12.1 is beginning to gain a foothold in the US, the May 10 Becker’s Hospital Review reports. Omicron BA2.12.1 now accounts for nearly 43% of new cases as of May 7, compared…
FDA: Class I recall of certain Accula SARS-CoV-2 Tests
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 9 identified the recall by Mesa Biotech, Inc, of certain Accula SARS-CoV-2 Tests as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because certain lots of the PCR test have an increased risk of giving false positive results because…
Nurses’ march to shine light on workplace violence, staffing
Editor's Note A peaceful nurses’ march protest, called United “Million” Nurses March and sponsored by Nurses Against Violence, is set to take place in Washington DC on May 12, according to HealthLeaders February 17. The protest is set to focus on two key issues plaguing the profession: workplace violence and…
Study: Divergent drinking patterns acquired by US adults during COVID-19
Editor's Note In this study from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, researchers identify distinct demographic subpopulations with diverging drinking trajectories during the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 8,130 US adults were surveyed biweekly from March 2020 to January 2021 on their past-week alcohol…
FDA limits use of J&J COVID-19 vaccine because of TTS risk
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 5 announced that it has limited the authorized use of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine to those 18 years of age and older for whom other COVID-19 vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate and to those who would…
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