Editor's Note This study from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, finds that full and partial COVID-19 vaccination reduced postoperative complications. Researchers analyzed data from patients having surgery at 1,283 VA medical facilities nationwide. Of 87,073 surgical patients, 20% were fully vaccinated, 15% were partially vaccinated, and 65% were unvaccinated. Among…

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Editor's Note This study led by researchers at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington, Seattle, highlights the complexity of diagnosing long COVID and the challenges of caring for patients with this condition. Included in the analysis were 200 randomly sampled COVID-19 patients receiving care in…

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Editor's Note JAMA Network published a research article on October 27 showing the long-term effects of COVID-19 on adults in the US and evaluating vaccine effectiveness for lasting symptoms, Health Leaders Media October 28 reports. The World Health Organization defines symptoms that last for at least 2 months post-infection as…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on October 26 that it will resume intracycle calls for Disease-Specific Care (DSC) and Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS) certification programs, starting January 1, 2023. These calls, which were suspended in 2021 because of COVID-19, require programs to update their intracycle tabs in the…

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Editor's Note This study led by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine finds that Black veterans hospitalized with COVID-19 were less likely to be treated with evidence-based treatments than White patients. A total of 43,222 veterans (12,135 Black and 31,087 White) hospitalized with COVID-19 in 130 Veterans Affairs Medical…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 12 identified the recall of Jiangsu Well Biotech’s COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Devices as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because the tests were distributed to US customers without authorization, clearance, or approval from the FDA. No…

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Editor's Note A “sharp rise” in cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this fall is worrying staff at US hospitals, who fear what may happen to the capacity of hospitals and other healthcare facilities if RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 infections peak around the same time this winter, The Washington Post…

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Editor's Note This study led by researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia examines COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers (HCWs) at two large academic hospitals in Philadelphia. A total of 5,929 HCWs were surveyed, including 2,253 MDs and DOs, 582 nurse practitioners (NPs), 158 physician assistants (PAs),  and 2,936 nurses.…

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Editor's Note This study led by researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, examines the World Bank Disease Control Priorities’ 44 essential surgical procedures, which are a starting point for health care systems in low- and middle-income countries, and analyzes whether the list should be expanded for nations with more…

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Editor's Note  Rose Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, a professor emeritus at Florida Atlantic University, concluded day two of the OR Manager Conference with a packed keynote presentation. Sherman tapped into 3 focus points: COVID-19’s impact on how nurses view their work, the implications of generational shifts, and leadership strategies…

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