Editor's Note This KFF survey from June 2023 found that some six in 10 adults with health insurance have experienced problems when trying to use their insurance, KFF Health News September 29 reports. The problems included denied claims, network adequacy issues, and preauthorization delays and denials. According to the survey,…
Editor's Note Early symptoms of type 2 diabetes often go undetected, and late detection can lead to long-term complications, including heart disease, nerve damage, and retinopathy. Screening for type 2 diabetes in the emergency department could reveal thousands of previously undiagnosed cases each year, EurekAlert! October 3 reports. These findings…
Editor's Note A new vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been found to be effective against a range of variants, according to an August 2023 Science Translational Medicine research article titled, "The RSVPreF3-AS01 vaccine elicits broad neutralization of contemporary and antigenically distant respiratory syncytial virus strains." This research was…
Editor's Note This new study from the Cleveland Clinic found that use of COVID-19 antiviral drugs Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir) and Lagevrio (molnupiravir) reduces risk of hospitalization and death in high-risk patients with mild disease, even against Omicron subvariants. The findings were published in JAMA Network on September 21. The study included…
Editor's Note Major warehouse corporation Costco has entered a partnership with virtual care company Sesame to expand its healthcare offerings to its members, Chief Healthcare Executive September 27 reports. This collaboration will reportedly allow Costco members to access Sesame's telehealth services at “affordable rates.” David Goldhill, Sesame's CEO and a…
Editor's Note With COVID-19 rates rising again, and winter cold and flu season around the corner, it is time for healthcare personnel to get a COVID-19 booster shot to help protect against illness–and recommend patients to do the same. In a September 2023 TIME Magazine article, doctors weigh in on…
Editor's Note This recent study of five pediatric clinics in Los Angeles County, California, found that when clinic staff performed screening for adverse childhood experience (ACE), they were able to elicit important patient information and build trust, with no adverse events reported. The study, titled "Clinician and Staff Perspectives on…
Editor's Note Transgender people are subject to mistreatment in healthcare encounters, including harassment, assault, and denial of care, according to this September 2023 qualitative study published by Annals of Family Medicine. This study comprised 30 transgender adults and found the following experiences among transgender patients: Transgender people often found clinicians’…
Editor's Note The nonprofit Leapfrog Group has joined forces with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to recognize hospitals providing exceptional care for patients with diabetes, Chief Healthcare Executive September 12 reports. Earning the designation will be based on how well hospitals meet ADA’s standards of care, in addition to their…
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of proper disinfection to manage and contain the spread of the disease. During the pandemic, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technology played an important role in safeguarding public health and combatting COVID-19. Various uses of UV technology have become available on the market and can be…