Telehealth services grew exponentially in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall telehealth utilization for office visits and outpatient care was 78 times higher in April 2020 than in February 2020, according to a McKinsey & Company July 2021 report. Since then, telehealth utilization has stabilized at levels that…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 15 identified the recall of Smiths Medical Normoflo irrigation fluid warmers and warming sets as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of the potential for aluminum ions leaching into warmed fluids, potentially exposing patients to high…
Editor's Note Zimmer Biomet on August 31 presented data at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2021 annual meeting that highlighted the clinical value of its MyMobility platform with Apple Watch, the August 31 Mass Device reports. MyMobility is a remote care management platform that helps guide and support patients…
Editors Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 23 identified the recall by Cardinal Health of its Monoject Saline Flush Prefilled Syringes as Class I, the most serious. Cardinal Health is recalling three models of the syringes because the syringe plunger may pull air into the syringe after…
Editor's Note AORN announced on August 15 that it will launch a new “Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Prevention of RSI.” Facilities will be recognized as Centers of Excellence for implementing a surgical team-based program to prevent retained surgical items (RSI). The complimentary program, sponsored by the AORN Foundation…
Editor's Note In this study by researchers at Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania, an individually addressed email nudge designed with behaviorally informed features caused more than twice as many healthcare workers (HCWs) to register for a COVID-19 vaccination, compared with HCWs in a control group. The health system initially sent…
Editor's Note Cigna and New York City-based Oscar Health will offer a virtual-first primary care plan next year in Georgia and Tennessee for small businesses, the July 22 Becker’s Hospital Review reports. The model, which will be available on some of the insurers’ joint plans, offers unlimited primary care provider…
Editor's Note ECRI on July 20 announced a collaborative partnership with Nuvolo, an independent software vendor involved in cloud-based connected workplace solutions, based in Paramus, New Jersey. The partnership integrates ECRI’s standardization of medical device data with Nuvolo’s Connected Workplace for Healthcare. This automated process enables standardization of device data…
Part 1 of this two-part series discussed the splashes and the potential for exposure to pathogens that personnel face daily in sterile processing and endoscopy departments, as well as the current guidelines and strategies for reducing exposures (OR Manager, July 2021, pp 1, 9-11, 15). These risks were derived from…
This year, the American Hospital Association reports that hospitals could lose between $53 billion and $122 billion in revenue. Public health and the healthcare sector faced severe physical, mental, and financial stressors in 2020. Although some pandemic-driven burdens are finally easing, US hospitals are expected to face enormous fiscal losses…