A recent study found that delaying surgery after a COVID-19 infection reduced the risk of major postoperative heart events.

The U.S. resumed its program that ships four free COVID-19 tests to every household Dec. 15 as the mostly vaccinated but scarcely boosted nation braces for a winter surge in cases. 

After evaluating intensive care units with elevated rates of healthcare-associated infections that participated in a federal quality improvement program, a study published Nov. 21 in BMJ Open Quality identified four themes to maintain infection prevention activities during the pandemic. 

At least four children's hospitals in the U.S. are seeing an increase in severe strep A infections, NBC News reported Dec. 14. 

Ascension's commitment to consistently improving the quality and safety of the care we deliver is part of the fabric of our healing ministry. It's who we are. It's what we do. And it's what we've done for decades. A recent New York Times article has attempted to call that commitment into question. 

Below are five hospitals, health systems or hospital operators that have recently posted job listings for chief quality officers. 

Long COVID-19 has contributed to the deaths of at least 3,544 people in the U.S., according to a CDC analysis of death certificates published Dec. 14. Experts who reviewed the report say the findings are almost certainly an undercount. 

A corrections officer fatally shot an inmate at Ascension Seton Hays Hospital on Dec. 12 after he allegedly tried to escape from the emergency room, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Emergency room and critical care physicians continue to see significant levels of respiratory syncytial virus activity, according to survey data published Dec. 14. 

New York's executive order on polio is "no longer necessary" as the number of positive wastewater samples has declined, health officials said Dec. 12. Efforts to increase vaccination uptake, however, will continue as coverage rates in affected areas remain too low. 

The Joint Commission will hold a safety briefing with healthcare organizations at the start of every accreditation survey starting in 2023, the organization said Dec. 13.

HHS has published a request for information on how it can best support the advancement of patient and healthcare worker safety as part of a new national alliance. 

As hospitals continue to face pandemic-related challenges, it's no surprise that many of The Leapfrog Group's straight-"A" hospitals are doubling down on efforts to reduce and prevent healthcare-associated infections.

Colleges and universities are updating and launching nursing programs to help combat nursing shortages.

Respiratory virus activity is already high, and health experts anticipate the upcoming holiday season to accelerate virus spread. 

From long COVID-19 to vaccine efficacy to maternal outcomes, Becker's covered dozens of COVID-19-focused studies since the start of the year.

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are steadily rising nationwide, suggesting a winter surge may be near. At present, however, the duration, magnitude and scope of such a surge is still unclear, experts told The Atlantic.

Adults who were prescribed Paxlovid for mild to moderate COVID-19 were 50 percent less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the CDC's COVID-19 Weekly Tracker published Dec. 9. 

Leaders at small health systems might be quick to dismiss the idea of an internal nurse staffing agency, thinking it's not an option for them. Kathy Sanford, DBA, RN, would challenge that assumption.

Nearly 26,000 lab-confirmed flu patients were admitted to hospitals for the week ending Dec. 3, up from the nearly 20,000 that were admitted the week prior.