November/December 2024 Issue of Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection Control
ON THE COVER
States with highest, lowest CAUTI rates
Vermont has the highest catheter associated urinary tract infections rate in the country while North Dakota has the lowest, CDC data shows.
COVID deaths fell 69% in 1 year
COVID-19 deaths fell 68.9% from 2022 to 2023 — dropping from the fourth leading cause of death to the tenth, the CDC said.
Older adults don't trust AI-generated health information: 4 notes
Seventy-four percent of older adults say they have little to no trust in health information generated by AI, according to a University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.
How MD Anderson enhances transfusion safety
Houston-based MD Anderson Cancer Center's hemovigilance unit was born from a blood transfusion-related event that led to a patient's death in 2019. Kimberly Klein, MD, medical director of the unit, presented operational insights from the program at the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies annual meeting Oct. 19, according to a news release from the association.
Studies unravel 3 common medical practices
Research is mounting against the common practices of prescribing thickened liquids, conducting spine implants for back pain and suspending blood pressure medicines before surgery, The New York Times reported Sept. 14.
Inside an Illinois hospital's safety-first culture: 3 successful programs
Since elevating safety to its No. 1 priority, Springfield (Ill.) Memorial Hospital has launched several projects to protect its staff and patients.
Health system execs: Patient safety 'not where we want to be'
Hospitals have become safer for patients in the past few years, but there is a long way to go, according to three health system leaders.
Where hospital labor shortages hit hardest: 4 notes
Hospital labor costs remain high nationwide amid persistent shortages, inflation and government policy changes, according to an Oct. 15 report from Moody's.
Inside Northwell's employee health game plan
When it comes to improving employee well-being, New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health has taken a multi-pronged approach, offering services including team member health services, stress management resources and support for healthy eating goals.
'Beyond hotel features': Inside Valley Health's new hospital rooms
Paramus, N.J.-based Valley Health System opened a new hospital in April after years of identifying and implementing patient-focused technology.
New care model lowers length of stay, boosts retention at Providence
Amid an influx of patients and extreme occupational burnout, Providence's Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas, piloted a virtual nursing model in 2021. Years later, the system has proven the model's value as it garners retention, length-of-stay and safety achievements.
Virtual nursing results at 8 systems: 24 stats to know
Faced with a shortage of nurses, a rise in high-acuity cases and an increase in labor spend, hospitals and health systems have turned to virtual nursing programs for solutions. Here are 24 statistics tied to virtual nursing models, according to Becker's reporting:
INFECTION CONTROL
CDC unveils new way to track respiratory virus trends: 4 updates
The CDC on Oct. 4 released a new "community snapshot" feature to track respiratory virus activity across the country.
Inside an Illinois hospital's safety-first culture: 3 successful programs
Since elevating safety to its No. 1 priority, Springfield (Ill.) Memorial Hospital has launched several projects to protect its staff and patients.
COVID deaths fell 69% in 1 year
COVID-19 deaths fell 68.9% from 2022 to 2023 — dropping from the fourth leading cause of death to the tenth, the CDC said.
IV nutrition shortages leave patients in limbo: What to know
Hurricane Helene-related IV supply shortages have left parenteral nutrition-dependent patients in limbo, according to an Oct. 18 report from KFF Health News.
Dengue fever cases more than double 2023 total: 4 notes
The number of dengue fever cases is now more than double the total cases from last year, ABC News reported Oct. 31.
PATIENT SAFETY & OUTCOMES
AHA, FBI partner to mitigate healthcare targeted violence: 4 things to know
The American Hospital Association and the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit have collaborated to create resources to mitigate targeted violence in healthcare settings, including threat assessment and prevention strategies. Healthcare industry workers experience the highest rate of injury from workplace violence and are five times as likely to suffer a workplace violence injury compared to workers overall, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
ChatGPT overprescribed emergency treatment: UCSF study
ChatGPT is more likely to overprescribe medications and imaging and is less effective than a resident in emergency department care, a University of California San Francisco study found.
The prevalence of harmful diagnostic errors: Study
Among 9,147 hospitalized patients who received general medical care, an estimated 653 experienced a harmful diagnostic error, according to research published in BMJ.
How hospital staffing ratios affect COVID death rates: 5 study findings
A study of 237 New York and Illinois hospitals found nurse staffing levels, Magnet designations and other factors were associated with lower COVID-19 death rates.
Health system execs: Patient safety 'not where we want to be'
Hospitals have become safer for patients in the past few years, but there is a long way to go, according to three health system leaders.
PATIENT & CAREGIVER EXPERIENCE
Inside Northwell's employee health game plan
When it comes to improving employee well-being, New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health has taken a multi-pronged approach, offering services including team member health services, stress management resources and support for healthy eating goals.
Where hospital labor shortages hit hardest: 4 notes
Hospital labor costs remain high nationwide amid persistent shortages, inflation and government policy changes, according to an Oct. 15 report from Moody's.
Older adults don't trust AI-generated health information: 4 notes
Seventy-four percent of older adults say they have little to no trust in health information generated by AI, according to a University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.
'Beyond hotel features': Inside Valley Health's new hospital rooms
Paramus, N.J.-based Valley Health System opened a new hospital in April after years of identifying and implementing patient-focused technology.
'The bane of patient experience' that's starting to change
Standard hospital gowns have long been "the bane of the patient experience," but a movement is underway to change that, according to an opinion piece in The New York Times published Oct. 21.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT & MEASUREMENT
'Outdated protocols' for anaphylaxis worsening patient outcomes: 7 things to know
"Outdated protocols" and a lack of patient education around anaphylaxis treatment can result in poor patient outcomes, Medscape Medical News reported Oct. 28.
How MD Anderson enhances transfusion safety
Houston-based MD Anderson Cancer Center's hemovigilance unit was born from a blood transfusion-related event that led to a patient's death in 2019. Kimberly Klein, MD, medical director of the unit, presented operational insights from the program at the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies annual meeting Oct. 19, according to a news release from the association.
CMS issues new hospital maternal health, safety standards: 8 things to know
To address the maternal health crisis in the U.S., CMS has issued new conditions of participation standards for hospitals that offer obstetrical services as part of its 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System rule shared Nov. 1.
Postpartum hypertension program cuts readmissions 69%
A new postpartum, at-home blood pressure monitoring program at M Health Fairview reduced postpartum readmissions due to hypertension by 69%.
Studies unravel 3 common medical practices
Research is mounting against the common practices of prescribing thickened liquids, conducting spine implants for back pain and suspending blood pressure medicines before surgery, The New York Times reported Sept. 14.
NURSING SPOTLIGHT
The only 17 hospitals to earn Magnet's top honor
In 2022, the American Nurses Credentialing Center unveiled the Magnet with Distinction program to recognize the world's highest performing Magnet organizations. Since then, only 17 hospitals in the U.S. have achieved the designation.
A Minnesota hospital tested VR in its nurse residency program. Here's how it went
Minneapolis-based M Health Fairview completed a pilot program for a newly developed immersive virtual reality capability in its nurse residency program.
Virtual nursing results at 8 systems: 24 stats to know
Faced with a shortage of nurses, a rise in high-acuity cases and an increase in labor spend, hospitals and health systems have turned to virtual nursing programs for solutions. Here are 24 statistics tied to virtual nursing models, according to Becker's reporting:
Meet Epic's 'chief nursing evangelist'
Emily Barey, RN, has served as Epic System's "chief nurse evangelist" for 23 years.
New care model lowers length of stay, boosts retention at Providence
Amid an influx of patients and extreme occupational burnout, Providence's Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas, piloted a virtual nursing model in 2021. Years later, the system has proven the model's value as it garners retention, length-of-stay and safety achievements.