NIOSH: Healthcare Workers Most Injured by Sharps
Most sharps injuries—84%—occur among healthcare workers, NIOSH confirmed in a recently released analysis. Injuries from a needle or other sharp objects can expose workers to bloodborne pathogens, such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other infectious diseases, NIOSH said in the September edition of its eNews.
Hospitals are Focusing on the Benefits of New Ultrasound Technology
Healthcare organizations are moving away from the bulky ultrasound machines of years past and embracing digital health platforms that make imaging more mobile and integrate directly with the EHR to improve care management and workflows.
CDC Pushing Environmental Control Reminders as Respiratory Infections Tick Upward
The CDC is urging hospitals to implement broader source control as COVID-19 cases are spiking across the country along with an uptick in cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Influenza is also a concern, especially as schools are back in session.
3 Health Systems Where Tech is Transforming Nursing
These three stories from HealthLeaders illustrate how nurses at hospitals and health systems around the country are embracing the advancements that technology and AI can provide.
Why Nurse Practitioners are a Solution to Rural Healthcare Challenges
NPs could ease “care deserts” created by physician shortages and rural hospital closings. Nearly 80% of rural U.S. counties are medical deserts, according to the NRHA. About 35% of all U.S. counties are “total maternity deserts”—no access to prenatal or delivery services—and another 54% are considered partial deserts, which equates to 7 million women without access to maternity care, according to the March of Dimes.
PCAST Report Urges Federal Leadership on Patient Safety
A new report released this week to President Biden issued four recommendations to improve patient safety, including the appointment of a federal patient safety coordinator and requiring annual public reporting of “never events.”
PSQH: The Podcast Episode 87 – The Evolution of the Patient Experience
On episode 87 of PSQH: The Podcast, Hari Prasad, CEO and co-founder of Yosi Health, talks about the evolution of the patient experience.
Patient Volume Expected to Rebound in Fall Following Summer Dip
Patient volume has been a barometer of the financial health of providers following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the largest for-profit hospitals reported encouraging admission totals in the second quarter of the year, which contributed to stabilizing operating margins.
ACHC Reapproved as Accrediting Organization for Another 4 Years
CMS approved ACHC as a hospital accrediting organization (AO) for another four years but only after a few adjustments to survey processes and standards, according to a notice set to be published in the Federal Register September 6.
OSF Healthcare Tests AI Tool to Schedule Advance Care Planning
A research team at the Illinois health system led by OSF Senior Fellow for Innovation Jonathan Handler, MD, tested an AI model that predicts the likelihood of a patient’s death five to 90 days after admission. That information is then used by care teams to decide when to begin advanced care planning for patients and their families.