Study: Early social distancing linked to smaller death rates, larger second waves
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at State University of New York, Binghamton, finds that social-distancing measures implemented by states in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in smaller death rates, but led to larger second waves. Conversely, social-distancing measures implemented by states later in the pandemic…
The Joint Commission reinstates volume requirements for advanced stroke certification programs
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on September 8 announced that it has returned to the original volume eligibility requirement for its advanced Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center (TSC) and Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) certification programs, effective September 1. Volume eligibility requirements were lowered in 2020 and into 2021 because of the COVID-19…
ANA urges HHS to declare nurse staffing shortage a national crisis
Editor's Note The American Nurses Association (ANA) on September 1 wrote a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), urging the agency to declare the ongoing shortage of nurses in the US a national crisis, citing the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant as a factor. In…
Survey: 30% of UCMC nurses would quit if hospital mandates COVID-19 vaccines
Editor's Note A survey at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC) finds that 30% of nurses would quit their jobs if the hospital mandates COVID-19 vaccines, the September 1 Dayton Daily News reports. Of 456 nurses surveyed, 136 said they would leave over a vaccine mandate. UCMC agreed to…
CDC: More than 83% of Americans had COVID-19 antibodies before Delta surge
Editor's Note A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that more than 83% of Americans had COVID-19 antibodies before the surge of the Delta variant began. Researchers examined data from 1,443,519 blood donation specimens obtained before the Delta variant. Overall infection-induced COVID-19 antibodies increased…
Healthcare employment down in August
Editor's Note Overall healthcare employment in the US was down in August to a seasonally adjusted 15,978,700 workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on September 3. Thatโs down 4,900 since July. However, hospital employment was up 3,200 jobs. The overall unemployment rate fell to 5.2%.
COVID-19 exacerbates domestic violence underreporting, racial disparities in Chicago
Editor's Note This study by researchers at the University of Chicago finds that the rate of domestic violence reporting in Chicago decreased after the March 2020 COVID-19 stay-at-home order was issued, and the decreased rate of reporting was substantially greater in majority Black vs majority White communities. Of 77 communities…
The Joint Commission seeking comments on proposed new emergency management requirements
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on September 1 announced that it is seeking comments on new and revised emergency management (EM) requirements for its hospital and critical access hospital accreditation programs. The aim of the proposed standards is to help healthcare organizations develop and improve their actions and responses to…
Resurgence of COVID-19 infection in fully vaccinated HCWs in San Diego
Editor's Note This study finds that fully vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) at University of California San Diego Health experienced a rapid increase in COVID-19 infections from June to July 2021. Vaccinations began in mid-December, and by March 2021, 76% of HCWs were fully vaccinated. This rose to 83% by July.…
Poll: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy drops to new low
Editor's Note An Axios-Ipsos poll published August 31 finds that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy may be waning. Among the findings: 20% are not likely at all or not very likely to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, down from 23% 2 weeks ago and 34% in March 68% with K-12 children have either…