USC Launches New Health Systems Management Engineering Program

This unique program offered by the Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering at USC Viterbi, aims to move graduates to the forefront of healthcare innovation and create new career paths. Professionals will have the opportunity to re-imagine or re-engineer how healthcare can be delivered more efficiently and learn how better patient outcomes can be achieved.

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Even After Infectious Outbreaks, Nursing Home Staffing May Never be Fully Replaced

The study, Staffing Patterns in US Nursing Homes During COVID-19 Outbreaks, noted that significant staffing declines during a severe COVID-19 outbreak continued even as much as 16 weeks after the outbreak’s start. And even though facilities temporarily increased hiring, contract staff, and overtime to boost staffing, these measures did not fully replace lost staff—particularly certified nursing assistants.

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Misinformation Can Be Catastrophic for Cardiovascular Patients

There is a lot of medical information and education on cardiovascular disease, particularly on the internet. But with that comes the problem of misinformation. Finding trustworthy information can be challenging, and relying upon wrong information can have health ramifications. Just because something is on the internet does not mean it’s medically true. 

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Addressing the Challenge of IV Dislodgement

IV dislodgements happen on a daily basis, so common that everyone in the hospital environment is aware of them. Whether it’s a caregiver tripping over tubing or a patient rolling over in their sleep, these incidents are understandable. But because they’re so universal, IV dislodgements cost the U.S. healthcare system as much as $2 billion annually.

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Six Strategies to Reduce Patient Discharge and Care Transition Risk

Four in 10 hospitals have struggled to appropriately discharge patients due to staffing shortages. Moreover, 86% of hospitals say COVID-19 has made it harder to secure placement for discharged patients. With the lack of postacute care staffing, health systems are under pressure to extend the length of hospital stays—making the cost of care dramatically more expensive.

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Lessons Learned From the RaDonda Vaught Case

Change does not happen overnight; it takes time, strategy, and concerted effort. Take the U.S. commercial aviation industry, for instance. Over the past 20 years, the sector has decreased its overall fatality rates by 95%. This was achieved with the support of the Federal Aviation Administration, which worked with the industry to form a number of programs that monitor for and ensure compliance, like the Commercial Aviation Safety Team.

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