|
Omicron sub-variant BA.2 harder to identify, found in five African nations: The BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron has been found in five African countries, a World Health Organization scientist said on Thursday, adding she was concerned about the development because samples of BA.2 may not be spotted as a form of Omicron. The BA.2 sub-variant has begun to replace Omicron's more common "original" BA.1 variant in countries such as Denmark. Data from there suggests no difference in disease severity, according to another WHO official. Reuters - Full Story
COVID-19 commission modeled on 9/11 inquiry draws bipartisan backing: A broad, bipartisan group of senators is coalescing around a plan for an independent panel to investigate the origins of the coronavirus and the U.S. response. Under a plan proposed by the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Health Committee — Senators Patty Murray of Washington and Richard M. Burr of North Carolina — a 12-member panel would have subpoena power to “get a full accounting of what went wrong during this pandemic,” Ms. Murray said, and make recommendations for the future. The legislation, being circulated as a draft, is still in its early stages. The New York Times - Full Story
COVID-19 and health - What to watch in 2022: That the disease carries the year of its birth in its very name presents a frustrating reminder of how long the COVID-19 pandemic has dragged on. Last year opened with optimism, with vaccines starting to roll out, holding out the apparent promise of a return to normal life. But as 2022 begins, the omicron variant is proof that the pandemic is still far from over, and the public and political will for strict lockdowns is now part of the past. Additionally, there are plenty of other public health concerns that have received inadequate attention during the pandemic, including suicide and mental health issues, particularly among young people. Substance abuse has increased, notably abuse of opioids and alcohol, and many children are under-vaccinated. On a positive note, the pandemic has led to a broader acceptance of telemedicine, though emergency rules put in place in the early days of the pandemic are ending. One possible solution is the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, a framework for participating states to streamline the process of licensure for physicians. Governing Magazine - Full Story
COVID shows how outdated EMS system needs to evolve: When the EMS system was developed, it was meant to help get severely injured or sick people to the hospital as quickly as possible so they can get the treatment they need to survive. In recent years, the system has been misused by people calling 911 for nonemergency reasons, sometimes several times a month. During the pandemic, that misuse has accelerated to critical levels as people call 911 for symptoms or even to get a COVID-19 test. There are solutions, albeit not easy ones, and some hospitals have already begun to implement them. For example, patients may be treated in the waiting room by a physician’s assistant or other personnel. Or, community paramedicine teams keep track of certain patients who have been discharged so they don’t end up calling 911 repeatedly. Government Technology Magazine - Full Story; Government Technology Magazine - Dayton, Ohio, Paramedicine Program Reduces ER Visits
'It is about mental illness': A former Hanover County man accused of killing two officers at Bridgewater College has ongoing mental health issues and needed help, his mother said in an interview Wednesday. Cheryl Campbell said she does not know the facts of what happened Tuesday at Bridgewater. When asked what specific mental health challenges her son has faced, she said: “I just don’t even know how to respond to that. As a parent, I have not been able to help him because he’s a legal adult.” Campbell is accused of fatally shooting Bridgewater campus police officer John Painter, 55, and campus safety officer Vashon “J.J.” Jefferson, 48, on the campus in Rockingham County on Tuesday. Richmond Times Dispatch - Full Story
Strained US hospitals seek foreign nurses amid visa windfall: With American hospitals facing a dire shortage of nurses amid a slogging pandemic, many are looking abroad for health care workers. There's an unusually high number of green cards available this year for foreign professionals, including nurses, who want to move to the United States — twice as many as just a few years ago. U.S. hospitals are struggling with a shortage of nurses that worsened as pandemic burnout led many to retire or leave their jobs. Meanwhile, coronavirus cases continue to rise and fall, placing tremendous pressure on the health care system. Hospitals are filling the gap by hiring traveling nurses, but that can be expensive. And hospital administrators say not enough nurses are graduating from U.S. schools each year to meet the demand. Sinead Carbery, president of International Nurse Staffing Solutions for AMN Healthcare, said the demand for international nurses has risen between 300% and 400% since the pandemic began. “This is a window of opportunity,” she said. “Because everything is flowing so well, there's a lot of competition for that talent.” Associated Press - Full Story
Hackensack Meridian Health launches Hospital At Home: In November 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a waiver called the Acute Hospital Care at Home Waiver allowing for hospitals to bill for acute care services that patients receive at home. Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey's largest and most integrated health network, has launched Hospital At Home, a program that delivers high-quality acute care in the home of a Medicare patient and may ultimately be scalable to the larger patient population. The program was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to help hospitals struggling with bed capacity. Research shows that these programs are at least as safe as inpatient care and result in improved clinical outcomes, higher rates of patient satisfaction, and reduced healthcare costs. Patients have indicated that they want to receive care at home, especially during the pandemic. KPVI - Full Story |
