Study Finds no Association between Stillbirths and COVID-19 Vaccines

Published on

Recent research suggests that mRNA Covid-19 vaccines do not cause increased risk to mom or baby during pregnancy. The novel coronavirus that became known as COVID-19 took lives, caused dire economic damage, and created dread and distress such as no one alive had experienced.  Pregnant women feared for their lives and those of their children. … Continued

FDA Issues Alert on Device that May Perforate the Heart

Published on

Medical devices can save lives—or they can end them.  Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a high-level alert concerning a heart pump used for critical care. The Impella Left Sided Blood Pump is used during coronary procedures or in the wake of a serious heart attack (myocardial infarction).  The device … Continued

Physicians Behaving Badly—Study Names Most Unprofessional Medical Specialty

Published on

A research study recently looked at healthcare providers reported by co-workers in safety event reports. In any workplace, the observations and opinions of co-workers are important.  In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center used the Co-Worker Observation Reporting System (CORS) that collects safety event reports involving the … Continued

Out of Scope: Hospitals Cited for CRNAs Practices

Published on

Earlier this year, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) cited two hospitals for actions it said involved Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) acting beyond the scope of their certification. The CDPH recently issued guidance on this matter that has gained national attention. Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) are specialized healthcare providers who have attained a … Continued

Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Breach: The Fallout and the Lawsuits

Published on

The Change Healthcare data breach in February of this year was the largest healthcare data breach to date. The fallout continues. Change Healthcare acts as a medical claim clearinghouse for approximately 15 billion medical and prescription claims each year.  Change Healthcare is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group.  The CEO of UnitedHealth Group, CEO Andrew Witty, … Continued

Defeating Sepsis: Research Points to Antibiotic that May Spare Gut Biome

Published on

A new antibiotic appears to deliver long-hoped-for support in killing or reducing dangerous antibiotic-resistant germs, while at the same time sparing helpful microbes living within the gut. Antibiotic resistance, or antimicrobial resistance (AR) is a pressing medical concern.  Antibiotics were once touted as miracle drugs, sparing the limbs and lives of patients who would otherwise … Continued

HAIs and AI: Can AI Reduce Hospital Infections?

Published on

A new study suggests Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be helpful in identifying Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). For hospitalized patients, the risk of healthcare goes beyond surviving a disease or complicated surgery.  HAIs are endemic to healthcare settings and can result in serious complications and set-backs for patients struggling to regain their health.  The Centers for Disease … Continued

Joint Commission Eliminates 200 More Standards Unnecessary to Facility Accreditation

Published on

The Joint Commission, the accrediting agency for most US healthcare facilities, is continuing to consolidate its standards. In late 2022, the Joint Commission announced the elimination of roughly 14 percent of its standards to consolidate and reformulate processes in a way that is more helpful to healthcare providers across the country.  In July of this … Continued

New Guidelines Aim to Prevent MRSA in Vulnerable Patients

Published on

Updated recommendations for treating Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in acute-care hospitals have been released. MRSA is a dangerous form of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (or Staph) which is commonly found on the skin.  MRSA is an antibiotic-resistant form of the bacteria that is found in both community and in healthcare settings.  Community-associated (CA-MRSA) MRSA is … Continued

Suffer a Diagnostic Error? Its More Common with Unusual Symptoms and Diseases

Published on

Diagnostic error is common and dangerous.  Recent studies look at diagnosis in the Emergency Department (ED), and what factors can influence misdiagnosis. According to a recent statement from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), overall accuracy of diagnosis is fairly high in the US.  Responding to criticism of a recent agency study, AHRQ … Continued