PSQH: The Podcast Episode 12 – Health IT and Quality Improvement
On episode 12 of PSQH: The Podcast, host Jay Kumar talks to Marc Probst, chief information officer of ELLKAY, about health IT trends and how COVID-19 is spurring innovation.
Study: COVID-19 Death Count Doesn’t Capture ‘True Mortality Effects’
A study by researchers at the University of South Florida and published in the Journal of Public Health suggests that measuring “years of life lost” is a better metric than deaths, because it accounts for the range of ages of the people who’ve died from COVID-19.
Signs of an ‘October Vaccine Surprise’ Alarm Career Scientists
In podcasts, public forums, social media and medical journals, a growing number of prominent health leaders say they fear that President Trump — who has repeatedly signaled his desire for the swift approval of a vaccine and his displeasure with perceived delays at the FDA — will take matters into his own hands, running roughshod over the usual regulatory process.
OSHA Fines Hospitals for PPE Failures Related to COVID-19
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center is facing $9,639 in proposed penalties after OSHA inspectors cited the hospital in Paramus, New Jersey, for “failing to fit test tight-fitting face piece respirators on employees who were required to use them.
Telemedicine Projected to Account for 20% of Medical Visits in 2020, Report Says
The new report, which was published last week by the Doximity physician network, is based on three resources: a randomized survey of 2,000 American adults to collect patient data, Doximity network data to reflect “physician adoption insights,” and data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and commercial insurance claims to gauge the telemedicine market.
TJC Releases Advice to Protect Well-Being of Healthcare Workers During Pandemic
The accreditor has joined the fight for protecting the mental and physical well-being of healthcare workers by releasing a guide designed to help staff support themselves, as well as help managers support them during the tough times of the pandemic, which is likely to stretch well into 2021 and perhaps beyond.
Researchers Detail Challenges of Determining Coronavirus Mortality
The United States has had the highest number of reported COVID-19 cases and deaths. As of Sept. 18, there were more than 6.8 million COVID-19 cases and more than 202,000 deaths reported in the United States, according to worldometer.
Waiting Room Safety: Infection, Furniture, and Power Outlets
Cleaning and keeping a healthcare waiting room safe for patients is a difficult task, says Jennifer Cowel, RN, MHS, a former Joint Commission executive and CEO of Patton Healthcare Consulting. Many elements need to be considered: furniture, electrical outlets, sanitizer dispensers, toys, and high-touch objects. And unlike patient rooms, there’s no turnover time between people where the space can be cleaned or checked.
National Physician Burnout Expert Shares Insights: ‘We Can Certainly Do Better’
Research published in September 2018 indicates that nearly half of physicians nationwide are experiencing burnout symptoms, and a study published in October 2018 found burnout increases the odds of physician involvement in patient safety incidents, unprofessionalism, and lower patient satisfaction.
Coronavirus: Study Shows Dexamethasone Reduces Patient Ventilator Days
The recent research, which was published by JAMA Network Open, gathered data from 41 ICUs in Brazil. There were nearly 300 COVID-19 patients in the study, with 151 randomly assigned to receive intravenous dexamethasone and standard care, and 148 in a control group that only received standard care.