COVID Vaccinations Officially Not Required
CMS issued a final rule May 31 officially rescinding the regulatory requirement to vaccinate healthcare staff in hospitals and other health organizations against the COVID-19 virus.
WHO Declares End of COVID-19 Global Emergency With ‘Pleasure’
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the end of the COVID-19 global public health emergency in a statement on May 5 that offered themes of both relief and precaution.
Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades Find Increase in HAIs During Pandemic
The average risk of three healthcare-associated infections reached a five-year high in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Leapfrog Group’s spring 2023 Hospital Safety Grade data.
COVID-19 Vaccines Requirements to End May 11 Along With PHE
CMS is ending a requirement that all hospital providers and suppliers be vaccinated against COVID-19 as of the end of the public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, according to new guidance issued on May 1.
California Hospital Reinstates Masking Policy After COVID-19 Outbreak Among Staff, Patients
A California hospital has reinstated its masking policy after more than a dozen staffers as well as some patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, according to a statement from the hospital’s parent company, Kaiser Permanente.
Wastewater Surveillance System Looks to Offer Early COVID Detection
One federally funded program is the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS). Launched in September 2021, the program works to coordinate and improve the nation’s capacity to track the presence of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) in wastewater samples across the country.
After the Pandemic, In-Person Visits Preferred Over Telehealth Visits, Study Finds
The new research article, which was published today by Health Affairs, features survey data collected from 337 primary care physicians and 1,417 patients. The physician survey was conducted from Feb. 12 to May 24, 2021. The patient survey was conducted from April 30 to May 11, 2021.
‘Tsunami of Criticism’ Follows DEA’s Proposed Telemedicine Prescribing Rules
The long-awaited proposal, unveiled in February, had been expected to ease the pathway for healthcare providers to use telemedicine to prescribe medications like buprenorphine without needing an in-person examination. But with the agency’s 30-day window for public comments expiring, the vast majority of the 20,000+ comments submitted have been negative.
PSQH Quick Poll: Taking the Pulse of Patient Safety
As part of PSQH’s celebration of Patient Safety Awareness Week, we decided to reach out to our readers with a few questions to find out the state of patient safety efforts in 2023. Part of PSQH’s Patient Safety Awareness Week activities, this PSQH Quick Poll is presented in partnership with GOJO – the makers of Purell, Nuance, Origami Risk, and the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission. The Quick Poll had a total of 105 respondents.
Long COVID Patients at Increased Risk for Cardiovascular Conditions, Study Finds
Long COVID, also known as post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), is defined as having new, returning, or ongoing health issues more than four weeks after an initial infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms that lead to a diagnosis of long COVID include fatigue, cough, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, neurocognitive difficulties, and depression.