Regulations/Legal
Participate in survey on effects of COVID-19 on evacuation of surgical smoke
Editor's Note Please participate in an important nationwide perioperative survey on surgical smoke evacuation. The purpose of the research led by Brenda Ulmer MN, RN, CNOR, is to determine evacuation behaviors in hospitals before COVID-19, and then note changes as the virus continued to spread in the US. Ulmer and…
The Joint Commission issues new Sentinel Event Alert on healthcare disparities
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on November 10, released a new Sentinel Event Alert, Issue 64: “Addressing healthcare disparities by improving quality and safety.” The Alert summarizes strategies for healthcare and human services organizations as they begin to address healthcare disparities, and it provides examples of successful initiatives already underway.…
CDC recommends Pfizer/BioNTech pediatric COVID-19 vaccine
Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on November 2, recommended broad use of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. Distribution of the vaccine to clinics, children’s hospitals, and pediatricians’ offices across the country have started, with plans to scale up to full…
CMS: COVID-19 vaccine mandates for Medicare providers
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), on Novermber 4, released regulations that will require Medicare-participating providers to ensure their staff members are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. CMS says: “Facilities covered by this regulation must establish a policy ensuring all eligible staff have received the first dose…
CMS releases final Medicare payment rule for ASCs, HOPDs
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), on November 2, released its 2022 final payment rule for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). The final rule increases Medicare prospective payment system rates by a net 2.0%—a combination of a 2.7% inflation update based on…
FDA investigating imported surgical, exam gloves
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on September 29, announced that healthcare facilities and providers should not purchase or use imported surgical and patient examination gloves from companies included on Import Alert 80-04. Companies are listed on an import alert when the FDA has enough evidence that they…
FDA: Class I recall of Cardiosave Hybrid/Rescue Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump battery packs
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on October 29, identified the recall by Datascope/Getinge/Maquet of its Cardiosave Hybrid/Rescue Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump battery packs as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of the risk of the battery failing and having a shortened run time, which…
CMS penalizes nearly half of all hospitals for high readmission rates
Editor's Note In FY 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will penalize 2,499 (47%) hospitals for excessive patient readmissions, the October 28 Kaiser Health News reports. In its 10th year of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, CMS will cut payments to the penalized hospitals by as much…
The Joint Commission seeking comments on new heart attack certification program
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on October 27, announced that it will launch a new Comprehensive Heart Attack Center Certification in July 2022 and is seeking comments on the newly proposed standards. The Joint Commission also has revised standards for its current certification programs: Acute Heart Attack Ready and Primary…
ECRI issues statement on COVID-19 vaccine boosters, global vaccine equity
Editor's Note In an October 26 news release, ECRI announced the publication of a Position Statement on “COVID-19 Vaccines: Mitigating Disease and Promoting Global Health Equity.” Speaking in support of the Statement, Marcus Schabacker, MD, PhD, president and chief executive officer, ECRI, says: “Despite the FDA and CDC’s advancement of…
Free Daily News
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