US could begin distributing 2.9 M COVID-19 vaccine doses this week
Editor's Note Gen Gustave Perna, who oversees logistics for Operation Warp Speed, announced December 8 that the government is prepared to distribute 2.9 million doses of Pfizer/BioNTechโs COVID-19 vaccine by the end of this week or immediately after the vaccine receives emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug…
Healthcare workersโ COVID-19 infections largely associated with community, home exposure
Editor's Note This study by researchers at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, finds that out-of-hospital (community and home) exposure to COVID-19 had the largest association with seropositive status of healthcare workers. Of 6,150 healthcare workers analyzed, nurses, medical assistants, and support services workers were at highest risk for…
ASA, APSF issue guidance on surgery, anesthesia for COVID-19 patients who have recovered
Editor's Note The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) issued a joint statement December 8 on performing elective surgery and anesthesia on COVID-19 patients who have recovered from the virus. The statement notes that: In general, all non-urgent procedures should be delayed until the patient…
FDA confirms efficacy of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, on cusp of EUA
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on December 8, released documents that confirmed the safety and efficacy of Pfizerโs COVID-19 vaccine, the Associated Press reports. The vaccine was co-developed with BioNTech. FDA regulators posted their analysis online, as the UK began administering doses of the vaccine to its…
Large US study confirms COVID-19 complications
Editor's Note This large US study of patients who contracted COVID-19 confirms and provides risk estimates for numerous complications of the disease. Using US health claims data of 70,288 patients who had a COVID-19-related healthcare visit between March 1 and April 30, 2020, researchers found that 53.4% were admitted to…
CDC: Implementing COVID-19 mitigation strategies in child care settings
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that implementing and monitoring adherence to recommended COVID-19 mitigation strategies can reduce the risk for transmission in child care settings. In collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Servicesโ Administration for Children…
Hospital employment up in November
Editor's Note Employment in US hospitals was up 4,700 jobs in November to a seasonally adjusted 5,160,800, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on December 4. Thatโs down 76,000 employees than a year ago. Overall, healthcare employment is at 15,979,800, which has decreased 439,400 in the past year. The overall…
Huddles may be the best way for healthcare workers to communicate during COVID-19
Editor's Note Brief huddles, rather than a barrage of emails and texts about safety and risk may be the fastest and simplest way for healthcare workers to avoid communication overload from COVID-19, this study from Baylor University reports. Interviews of 40 workers in two hospitals found the following: Healthcare workers…
AHA, AMA, ANA affirm their support for vaccines
Editor's Note The American Hospital Association (AHA) on December 5 announced that the AHA, American Medical Association (AMA), and American Nurses Association (ANA) released an open letter to the American public on December 1, affirming their support for vaccines as a critical means for protecting individuals and communities from COVID-19.…
CMS releases final 2021 Medicare payment rule for ASCs, HOPDs
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on December 2 released its 2021 final payment rule for ASCs and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). CMS has finalized the addition of 11 procedures to the ASC covered procedures list, including total hip arthroplasty, autochondrocyte knee implant, and open complex…