Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Helps Coronavirus ‘Long Haulers’
One of the more mysterious characteristics of COVID-19 is that a significant number of patients who are long haulers experience symptoms for weeks or months after recovering from the acute phase of the illness. Coronavirus long haulers have a range of physical symptoms, including cough, shortness of breath, constitutional symptoms such as numbness and tingling, cardiac issues, hair loss, and deconditioning.
OSHA Suspends Enforcement of its Vaccine Mandate
OSHA has suspended enforcement of its COVID-19 vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard (ETS) while the requirement is challenged in court, according to a statement on the agency’s ETS information website.
PSQH: The Podcast Episode 41 – The Valuable and Expanding Role of Physician Assistants
On episode 41 of PSQH: The Podcast, Dr. Dawn Morton-Rias, CEO of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, talks about how the role of physician assistants has evolved over the years.
CMS Releases its Final Guidance for Hospitals With Co-Located Services
While the memo has many of the same sections on contracted staff, emergency services and identification of shared spaces, much of the more prescriptive sections are either shortened or deleted. That includes guidance for surveyors to ask for floor plans to evaluate how patients are transported from one space to another and examples of when the use of floating nurses are in violation of CoP requirements.
Baylor-led Study Examines COVID-19’s Effects on Pediatric APRNs
Pediatric APRNs and agencies are experiencing significant disruption in care provision, patient presentations, clinical practices, immunizations, and revenue streams, the study says. Furthermore, some pediatric APRNs have transitioned to work with adult populations “in an unprecedented fashion,” while others have been temporarily furloughed or permanently laid off due to a stronger demand for critical care nurses and a lower demand for primary care nurses.
OSHA Vaccine, Testing ETS Indefinitely Stayed
After issuing an initial stay on November 6, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans on November 12 reaffirmed its stay, instructing OSHA and the Department of Labor to take no steps to implement or enforce the emergency temporary standard (ETS) while the appeals court considers the petitioners’ request for a permanent injunction.
New Study Estimates the Costs of U.S. Maternal Morbidity
The new study, which was published by The Commonwealth Fund, examined the medical and nonmedical costs associated with nine maternal morbidities: amniotic fluid embolism, cardiac arrest, gestational diabetes mellitus, hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, maternal mental health conditions, renal disease, sepsis, and venous thromboembolism.
COVID-19 Fears and Frustration Add to Recruiting Challenges for Hospitals
For the past several months, the federal government has tried a variety of measures aimed at helping workers and families cope during the pandemic. But government measures apparently aren’t going far enough in the healthcare sector, where thousands of nurses have reportedly left the profession due to fears and concerns around the pandemic.
CMS Interim Rule on Vaccinations Supersedes State or Local Orders
The CMS interim final rule (IFR) applies to individuals working in Medicare- and Medicaid-participating facilities, as well as individuals working in other settings involving face-to-face interactions with patients. The IFR requires all clinical and non-clinical personnel to have received at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by December 5, 2021, and complete the vaccine course by January 4, 2022.
Nurse Practitioners Celebrate National NP Week
The work of nurse practitioners (NP) is being heralded with proclamations and certificates by U.S. governors as they and healthcare providers, policymakers, and patients join the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® in celebrating National NP Week this week, November 7-13, 2021.