The Hawaii Department of Health increased its case count for an ongoing mumps outbreak to 500 Thursday.  By Brian Zimmerman - 10/20/17

The Patient Safety Movement Foundation on Thursday recognized three organizations that made commitments with PSMF in 2017 to save lives by addressing preventative patient deaths.  By Brian Zimmerman - 10/20/17

Reducing unnecessary laboratory testing can improve inpatient satisfaction and lower hospital costs, according to an article published in JAMA Internal Medicine.  By Mackenzie Bean - 10/20/17

Influenza pandemics in the Northern Hemisphere are more likely to occur at the tail end of flu season, according to a study published in PLOS Computational Biology.  By Brian Zimmerman - 10/20/17

The likelihood of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is higher among rheumatoid arthritis patients, according to a study published in Arthritis Care & Research.  By Anuja Vaidya - 10/20/17

A study, published in the American Journal of Nursing, examines whether prelicensure nursing programs have a policy and a tool for reporting and following up on clinical errors and near misses by students.  By Anuja Vaidya - 10/20/17

Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif., will open a more than $1.2 billion pediatric and obstetric facility in December, after nearly a decade of development.  By Brian Zimmerman - 10/20/17

The CDC on Friday outlined updated guidance for providers treating infants with possible congenital Zika syndrome in its most recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.    By Brian Zimmerman - 10/20/17

Throughout the U.S., healthcare-acquired infections plague many patients and cost hospitals and health systems a large sum of capital. Each year, HAIs infect 2 million Americans and cost the healthcare industry $3.05 billion annually. However, these numbers can be significantly reduced through a comprehensive approach to infection prevention, which entails using UVC light in tandem with terminal cleaning.  By Mary Rechtoris - 10/20/17

Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs officials on Wednesday confirmed two residents at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy recently contracted Legionnaires' disease, according to the Herald-Whig.  By Brian Zimmerman - 10/19/17

Los Angeles County has the highest 30-day readmission rate for any California county with more than one hospital, according to an analysis conducted by Dexur.com.  By Brian Zimmerman - 10/19/17

Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System gave nearly 1,300 veterans and 240 VA employees flu shots that may not be fully effective due to a refrigeration error, according to a report from The San Diego Union-Tribune.  By Brian Zimmerman - 10/19/17

A new study, published in the The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, examined whether the use of epilepsy drug, lamotrigine, during pregnancy increased the risk of birth malformations or neurodevelopmental disorders.  By Anuja Vaidya - 10/19/17

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America announced its 2018 board of trustees.  By Anuja Vaidya - 10/19/17

Federal officials are investigating care lapses at Bedford (Mass.) VA Medical Center that may have contributed to the 2016 death of a patient, reports The Boston Globe.  By Mackenzie Bean - 10/19/17

Intermountain Healthcare's Utah Valley Hospital in Provo now conducts an emotional wellness screening on every woman who gives birth at the hospital prior to discharge.  By Mackenzie Bean - 10/19/17

Hawaii State Department of Health officials on Oct. 13 said 45 individuals became ill after eating at a restaurant in Waikiki. Officials confirmed some cases as norovirus, according to a report from the Star Advertiser.    By Brian Zimmerman - 10/18/17

Older heart attack patients are more likely to experience care delays than their younger counterparts, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.  By Brian Zimmerman - 10/18/17

One in nine American men between the ages of 18 and 69 have oral HPV, which is linked to cancers of the head, neck and throat, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.  By Brian Zimmerman - 10/18/17

Development of a universal flu vaccine is a crucial public health goal among the infectious disease communities, as seasonal influenza vaccines require regular updates, offer limited protection against seasonal strains and little to no protection against emerging pandemic strains.  By Brian Zimmerman - 10/18/17