Editor's Note In this study, from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Menlo Park, and Stanford University, both in California, researchers found that the pause in elective surgical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic was not associated with short-term adverse outcomes in VA hospitals. A total of 3,326 surgical procedures canceled…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on June 10, announced the Class I recall of Innova Medical Group’s SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test. The test, which claimed to determine if a person has an active COVID-19 infection, has not been authorized, cleared, or approved by the FDA for…
Editor's Note This study by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic finds that those who have been infected with COVID-19 do not get additional benefits from the vaccine, suggesting that vaccines should be prioritized to individuals who have not gotten the infection. During this analysis of 52,238 Cleveland Clinic employees over…
Editor's Note The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) announced on June 9 that it will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees, beginning September 1, 2021. UMMS leaders at the manager level and above have until August 1, 2021, to be vaccinated. All UMMS team members and partners, including contractors,…
Editor's Note This study by researchers at the University of Louisville finds that state mask mandates did not help slow COVID-19 transmission. The analysis compares COVID-19 case growth rates in 33 states that imposed statewide mask mandates on or before August 2, 2020, with states that imposed mask mandates after…
Editor's Note The Joint Commission and National Quality Forum (NQF), on June 9, announced the recipients of the 2020 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards. The awards recognize and honor initiatives in three categories: Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality at the National Level—Veterans Health Administration Rapid Naloxone…
Editor's Note This study by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that since adult COVID-19 vaccinations began in the US in December 2020, there has been a: 40% decline in cases 59% decrease in emergency department (ED) visits 65% drop in hospital admissions 66% decline…
Editor's Note Houston Methodist has suspended 178 healthcare workers (HCWs) for not following a hospital policy that requires employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the June 7 New York Times reports. After warning employees last month that they had to be vaccinated by June 7 or face suspension, 117 HCWs…
Editor's Note This study by researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s ambulatory surgery center, New York City, finds that remote measurement of patient-reported symptoms after surgery can improve outcomes and reduce postoperative urgent care and emergency department (ED) visits. The researchers developed an electronic platform and alert system, called…
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced June 2 that Joint Commission Resources, Inc, (JCR) has launched a new subscription-based Digital Learning Center (DLC) to provide on-demand accreditation and compliance courses and content. In addition to JCR’s digital content, which includes webinars, videos, PolicySource, and digital newsletters and e-books, the DLC…