NIOSH Says FFRs with Exhalation Valves Just as Effective at Control of Disease Sources
NIOSH confirmed that approved FFRs like N95 respirators protect the wearer, filtering particle penetration to less than 5%. The report, “Filtering Facepiece Respirators with an Exhalation Valve: Measurements of Filtration Efficiency to Evaluate Their Potential for Source Control” (NIOSH Publication No. 2021-107), also confirmed that an FFR with an exhalation valve provided the same source control as commonly used measures like surgical masks, procedure masks, and cloth face coverings.
Hospitals Scramble to Prioritize Which Workers Are First for COVID Shots
Even as the federal Food and Drug Administration engaged in intense deliberations ahead of Friday’s authorization of the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID vaccine, and days before the initial 6.4 million doses were to be released, hospitals across the country have been grappling with how to distribute the first scarce shots.
EVS Training and Certification are Essential to Healthcare’s Mission
By: Hagan Kappler Modern healthcare is based on two important principles originally ascribed to Hippocrates: help the sick and abstain from doing harm. Physicians are sworn to these ideals. Nurses and others in healthcare promise the same. These goals are certainly true for Environmental Services directors and staff. They serve on the frontline of infection … Continued
Discuss Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations Carefully
May an employer covered by the ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 compel all of its employees to take the influenza vaccine regardless of their medical conditions or their religious beliefs during a pandemic? Quick answer: No.
Dr. Fauci Addresses Vaccination Rollout, Masking Challenges, At-Home Testing
As the FDA reviews the emergency use authorization requests from both Pfizer and Moderna for their respective potential vaccines, Fauci urged the public to trust the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.
IHI CEO Emphasizes Need for ‘Curb Cut Solutions’ to Patient Safety Issues
Mate, who was named the organization’s CEO in June, said the search for ways to build a better healthcare system should embrace the concept of targeted universalism, which is an inclusive way to implement interventions. A prime example of targeted universalism is the curb cut, which was initially created to provide public streets accessible to wheelchair users, but now benefits a wide variety of people for various reasons.
Assessing and Addressing Interprofessional Teamwork in Hospitals
The recent research article, which was published by The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, is based on data collected from four U.S. hospitals that were participating in the Redesigning Systems to Improve Teamwork and Quality for Hospitalized Patients project. The project is crafted to establish and spread care models that increase interprofessional teamwork and improve outcomes for hospitalized patients.
Virtual Hospital Expands Inpatient Capacity During Coronavirus Pandemic
Charlotte, North Carolina-based Atrium Health features 50 hospitals and other healthcare facilities in three states. The health system launched a virtual hospital at home program for COVID-19 patients in March and recently published a study about the initiative in Annals of Internal Medicine.
PSMF Renews Efforts to Improve Patient Safety in Hospitals
Patient Safety Movement was founded in 2012 with the goal of eliminating preventable patient deaths by 2020. While it fell short of that goal, the group says its hospital and health system partners saved 366,353 lives during 2012-2020 by improving processes. Still, there is much more to be done.
PSQH: The Podcast Episode 17 – Supporting Remote Patients During a Pandemic
On episode 17 of PSQH: The Podcast, host Jay Kumar talks to Dr. Stephanie Lahr, CIO and CMIO at Monument Health in South Dakota, about providing care for remote patients in a pandemic.