Five Important Questions About Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine
Pfizer’s vaccine consists of genetic material called mRNA encased in tiny particles that shuttle it into our cells. From there, it stimulates the immune system to make antibodies that protect against the virus. A similar strategy is employed in other leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates. If mRNA vaccines can protect against COVID-19 and, presumably, other infectious diseases, it will be a momentous piece of news.
ECRI: Half of Disposable Isolation Gowns Don’t Pass Muster
The alarming results of the test evaluating 34 models of disposable gowns from foreign or non-traditional suppliers prompted ECRI to issue a high-priority hazard alert to warn healthcare organizations about its safety concerns.
Coronavirus: Northwell’s 10-Step Recipe for Addressing Patient Surges
The health system, which features 23 hospitals and 800 ambulatory sites, treated about 20,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients during the spring surge, says Mark Jarrett, MD, MBA, senior vice president, chief quality officer, and deputy chief medical officer at Northwell.
Survey: Nurses Have Taken on Leadership Roles But Feel Less Respected Than Physicians
A survey of 300 full-time nurses conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix between July 30 and August 11 found that 73% said that they had taken on more leadership responsibility since the beginning of the pandemic. Further, 78% reported feeling like other staff members looked to them as leaders.
PSQH: The Podcast Episode 15 – Precision Medicine and Improving Care Quality
On episode 15 of PSQH: The Podcast, host Jay Kumar talks to Dr. Joel Diamond about precision medicine and how it can help improve the quality of patient treatment.
Amid COVID-19, OSHA Issues Respirator Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities
The industrial hygiene “hierarchy of controls” is a series of workplace safety and health interventions that begins with elimination of hazards, followed by substitution, then engineering controls, administrative controls (including work practices), and personal protective equipment.
Civil Unrest While Managing a Pandemic: Lessons Learned in Minnesota
Two hospital incident command structures (HICS) operated simultaneously—one to manage COVID-19 and the other managed the civil unrest response. Depth in each HICS position developed during the COVID response facilitated the transition of team members to the new HICS.
Researchers Explore Breathtaking Possibility: A Rapid, Low-Cost COVID-19 Breath Test
A joint development agreement between BreathTech Corporation, a subsidiary of Austin, Texas-based Astrotech, and Cleveland Clinic focuses on using a non-invasive device that will analyze breath samples to identify COVID-19 strains.
ABQAURP News: November 2020
The Ochsner Digital Medicine “focus factory” model augments the standard primary care service. The program is built on a team-based model of care that includes physicians, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, and health coaches, and features remote physiologic monitoring, medication management in accordance with current evidence-based guidelines, and lifestyle coaching.
Review Policies on Cyberattacks as FBI, HHS Send New Warning
Hospitals are required under the Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoP), Medical Record Services, to ensure that “unauthorized individuals” cannot gain access to or alter patient records. Deficiencies can be cited under Tag A-0442.