Study: Low-Temperature Sterilization of Medical Tools is Problematic
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tested the effectiveness of three low-temperature technologies, often used for plastic tools, against steam sterilization by simulating the impact of proteins and salts left on tools before sterilization.
Survey Highlights Pervasive Drug Diversion Problem in U.S. Hospitals
The survey found that 86% surveyed have met or know someone who has diverted drugs, with another 43% indicating their facility could be at risk of fines, bad publicity, lawsuits, or overdoses because of past or potential drug diversion cases.
Verma Raps Accrediting Organizations’ ‘Glaring Conflict of Interest’
Delivering the opening remarks at the 2020 CMS Quality Conference in Washington, D.C., Verma said her agency is “looking at ways to enhance our oversight of accrediting organizations.”
HHS Unveils Strategy to Reduce EHR Burden for Clinicians
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Strategy on Reducing Regulatory and Administrative Burden Relating to the Use of Health IT and EHRs, mandated by the 21st Century Cures Act, aims to reduce the effort and time required by clinicians to meet reporting requirements, record health information, and improve the functionality and intuitiveness of EHRs.
‘Strong Cautionary Tales From Practicing Nurses’ Revealed in Nationwide Survey
Recent results from The AMN 2019 Survey of Registered Nurses highlight the pressures and challenges RNs face daily. These challenges include the effects of working second jobs, the experiences of bullying and workplace violence, and concerns about how their jobs affect their health. Because of these and other stressors, 44% of the RN respondents say they often feel like quitting.
Primary Care Dementia Screening Does Not Increase Depression or Anxiety
The recent research, which was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, examined data collected from 4,005 primary care patients over age 65. Half of the patients were screened for ADRDs and the other half served as a “no screen” control group.
Value-Based Metrics Penalize Top-Performing Hospitals
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston found that hospitals awarded by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology for their high-quality care for acute myocardial infarction and heart failure were more likely to be financially penalized under value-based programs than other hospitals.
New Data on Sepsis Prevalence and Costs ‘Astonished’ DHHS Researchers
Sepsis is diagnosed in at least 1.7 million adults annually in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 270,000 Americans die from sepsis every year, and 1 in 3 patients who die in hospitals are diagnosed with sepsis, the CDC says.
Vitamin and Steroid Treatment for Sepsis Fails in Major Study
Currently, the only treatment option for sepsis is an aggressive regimen of antibiotics. However, this is only partially effective, and even an hour delay in antibiotics increases the odds of mortality by 10%.
CDC: Focus on Protecting Staff and Supplies as Coronavirus Concerns Grow
If possible, patients under investigation should be given a surgical mask and moved to a negative pressure room. Healthcare workers should use appropriate PPE, including eye protection that should be goggles and not safety glasses.