Editor's Note This study led by researchers from Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, finds that healthcare workers (HCWs) had significant changes in their personal and professional lives during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, before the availability of vaccines. Findings from this analysis of 1,344 HCWs (ie, nurses,…

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Editor's Note A federal judge, on November 29, blocked a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) mandate requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers (HCWs) in facilities participating in CMS programs in 10 states, the November 29 Bloomberg Law reports. In his ruling, the judge says the CMS mandate requires…

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Editor's Note A study by Premier healthcare consultants finds that the average annual salary for RNs grew about 4% to $81,376 this year, the November 17 Becker’s Hospital Review reports. The study, which examined salaries of about 60,000 nurses for The Wall Street Journal, notes that RN salaries are rising…

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Editor's Note This study from the UK of surgical patients in 18 countries finds that the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted surgical patients—directly through comorbid infections and indirectly by increasing mortality—irrespective of their COVID-19 status. In a subgroup analysis of 3,176 adult emergency surgical patients, all-cause, in-hospital…

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Editor's Note A coalition of 12 states, on November 15, sued the federal government to block a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandate requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers (HCWs) in facilities participating in CMS programs, the November 16 Becker’s Hospital Review reports. This complaint follows a lawsuit…

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Health systems across the country are enacting COVID-19 mandates to comply with a broad-sweeping federal requirement. Amid reports of high compliance rates, the mandate has triggered passionate and visceral responses on both sides of the debate. While some healthcare employees are eager to roll up their sleeves, others decry the…

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Editor's Note Overall healthcare employment in the US was up in October to a seasonally adjusted 16,032,600 workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on November 5. That’s up 37, 200 since September. Hospital employment also rose by 1,100 jobs. The overall unemployment rate fell to 4.6 %.

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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…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is seeking comments on workplace and occupational safety and health interventions to prevent work-associated stress, support stress reduction, and foster positive mental health and well-being among healthcare workers. Examples of interventions include employee…

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Editor's Note Overall healthcare employment in the US was down in September to a seasonally adjusted 15,968,400 workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on October 8. That’s down 17, 500 since August. Hospital employment also fell by 8,100 jobs. The overall unemployment rate fell to 4.8 %.

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