New York City-based Mount Sinai health system has received a gift of $5 million that will be used to enhance the preservation of organs, according to a Feb. 13 news release. 

Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton, Ohio, is taking proactive measures after two patients tested positive for the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease after stays at the facility, local news outlets reported Feb. 15. 

The nation has an average nurse vacancy rate of almost 16%, according to the 2023 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report. At Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health, however, that figure is 6.5%. The secret, according to one of its leaders: creating a strong culture, investing in nurse leadership development and implementing a strong employee referral program.

Forgoing the usual metrics for emergency medical services, researchers evaluated more than 9,000 EMS companies through 11 measures. They found large discrepancies in patient care.

Health policymakers and legislatures have been arguing about the optimal way to finance healthcare for more than two decades, if not longer. The 2010 landmark Affordable Care Act and debate about “Medicare for All” continue to delight some and infuriate others, even now. Those important discussions will continue unabated.

Kawasaki disease, an acute febrile illness that affects children, declined by 50% during COVID-19, but physicians at San Diego, Calif.-based Rady Children’s Hospital have noticed a resurgence, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Feb. 13.

Needle pokes may be children's biggest source of pain in healthcare and can lead to needle phobias as adults, NPR reported Feb. 13.

Researchers at Cleveland Clinic have discovered that the presence of Lewy body pathology in Alzheimer's patients elevates their risk factors for certain adverse outcomes, specifically brain bleeds. The results of the study were published Feb. 14 in Alzheimer's & Dementia.

Emergency departments are finally seeing some reprieve after weeks of capacity issues exacerbated by respiratory virus activity across the U.S. Visits to the ER for respiratory viruses continue to follow a downward trend, but the amount of respiratory illnesses in circulation is still elevated overall, CDC data shows.

New York state is being sued by 4 nurses and criticized by 50 more who received their license through a Florida school that has been accused of selling degrees, the Times Union reported Feb. 14.

One person was killed and five others were injured after a vehicle crashed into the emergency room waiting area at St. David's North Austin (Texas) Medical Center at around 5:35 p.m. Feb. 13.

The CDC has appointed Robyn Neblett Fanfair, MD, as the permanent director of the Division of HIV Prevention, which falls under the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, according to a Feb. 12 news release.

Arizona could have the worst nursing shortage crisis in the nation by 2025 with nearly 28,100 vacancies in roles needed to maintain normal levels of care, according to data from the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis.

In early 2024, clusters of measles outbreaks have appeared in at least six states. Here is a quick timeline of events:

The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum have selected three hospitals and health systems for stand-out patient safety efforts, the organizations jointly announced Feb. 13.

Advanced practice nurses in Mississippi could see their roles expand, allowing for full scope of practice authority as soon as July if lawmakers there back the proposal. 

The CDC plans to do away with its five-day COVID isolation guidance, aiming to put the recommendations more in line with those for flu and respiratory syncytial virus, officials familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.

Simple assaults against healthcare workers increased from 17.7 incidents per 100 beds to 22 incidents, and 65% of hospitals said it was difficult or very difficult to retain full, qualified security staff, according to the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety Foundation's 2023 Healthcare Crime survey.

The U.S. is now monitoring BA.2.87.1, a new SARS-CoV-2 variant with more than 30 changes in the coronavirus spike protein. 

Acute care hospitals have until July 1 to join the National Healthcare Safety Network. Membership with the network will now be required for acute care hospitals to receive federal funding from CMS.