The Joint Commission posts new sentinel event data
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on September 29, released new sentinel event data for the first 6 months of 2021. The summary data of sentinel event statistics for the first half of 2021 covers 16,695 incidents reported from 1995 through June 30, 2021. Of these sentinel events: 47% led to…
CDC: Safety monitoring of COVID-19 vaccine booster dose
Editor's Note This study by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that adverse reactions after the third dose of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine were similar to those after the second dose. Of 12,591 participants who completed a survey after all three doses: 79.4% and 74.1% reported local…
ECRI partners with FDA on safety of materials in medical devices
Editor's Note ECRI, on September 30, announced a new partnership with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve the safety of medical devices through the use of safer materials. ECRI is developing safety reports for materials commonly used in implantable medical devices and assessing their possible effects on patients…
Outdoor daylight exposure, longer sleep promote wellbeing during COVID-19 restrictions
Editor's Note This study by Israeli researchers finds that restrictions implemented during COVID-19 dramatically altered daily routines and limited time spent outdoors, which resulted in deteriorating personal wellbeing. The analysis of 7,517 adults from 40 countries who were surveyed during the 2020 COVID-19 restrictions found that social restrictions impaired all…
FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine boosters for certain populations
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 22 amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine to allow for use of a single booster to be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series in those: 65 years of age and older…
Effect of interruptions in Medicare patient treatment during COVID-19 on physicians, practices
Editor's Note This study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, finds that practice interruptions in the treatment of Medicare patients spiked in April 2020, and interruption-without-return rates were larger for older physicians. In this analysis of 547,849 physicians billing Medicare: Practice…
COVID-19 vaccination requirements result in HCW terminations, resignations
Editor's Note COVID-19 vaccination requirements have caused some organizations to fire healthcare workers (HCWs) for noncompliance, and HCWs have quit over the policies, the September 17 Becker’s Hospital Review reports. Healthcare systems announcing resignations and terminations include the following: Morehead, Kentucky-based St Claire HealthCare has fired 23 HCWs for noncompliance…
Survey: Orthopedic patients more satisfied with telehealth visits than surgeons
Editor's Note In this study presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting in San Diego, researchers found that orthopedic surgical patients had a higher level of satisfaction with telehealth visits than surgeons, the September 16 Healio Orthopedics Today reports. Of 107 patients and six surgeons surveyed, approximately…
FDA: Class I recall of Medtronic Pipeline Flex Embolization devices
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on September 20, identified Medtronic’s recall of its Pipeline Flex Embolization Device and Pipeline Flex Embolization Device with Shield Technology as Class I, the most serious. The devices, which are used to treat brain aneurysms, were recalled because there is a risk…
How might telehealth alter approaches to surgical patient care?
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…
Free Daily News
- Study: Predictive model improves nosocomial infection risk assessment after colon cancer surgery
- New colonoscopy guidelines increase bowel prep quality expectations
- Healthcare employment up in February
- New legal standard redefines medical negligence
- Study: Machine learning improves OR efficiency, but challenges remain
- Study: Weekend effect raises risk of surgical patient mortality, complications
- 4-day workweek boosts job satisfaction, work-life balance for nurse leaders
- Open-heart surgery performed on infant mid-delivery
- Infusion pumps deemed high-risk in FDA early alert
- Stem cell researchers tout potential for sickle cell disease cure