Here are 10 articles on some of the most interesting medical research study findings and advancements from the week of April 11.
1. Even though CMS' current star ratings system for hospitals is based solely on patient experience scores, researchers from Harvard found higher rated hospitals do in fact have lower mortality and readmission rates than their lower rated counterparts. Read more.
2. A study published in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, found the World Health Organization's six-step hand hygiene technique was better than the CDC's three-step method in reducing bacteria on healthcare workers' hands. Read more.
3. Researchers discovered a connection between Zika and yet another disorder, called acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, which is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the brain's myelin, much like multiple sclerosis. Read more.
4. The common pain medication acetaminophen may hinder the brain's error-detecting abilities, according to a new study published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. Read more.
5. While the World Health Organization's My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene method may be able to approximate hand hygiene effectiveness, the feasibility of directly observing hand hygiene compliance using the method is limited in U.S. hospitals. Read more.
6. Children from rural areas who receive treatment at children's hospitals experience more expensive care and a higher frequency of readmissions than nonrural patients, according to a study published in Pediatrics. Read more.
7. Researchers developed a seamless personal protective equipment prototype that used adhesive material on the sleeve of the gown to attach the gloves at the wrist. They found the seamless suit reduce the risk of contamination to healthcare workers' hands and wrists. Read more.
8. Although surgical skill affects patients' risks for early complications, it does not affect postoperative weight loss or resolution of medical conditions one year following laparoscopic gastric bypass, according to a study published in JAMA Surgery. Read more.
9. A Consumer Reports investigation revealed the single biggest variable that influences a woman's chance of having a C-section is which hospital she chooses to deliver her baby. Read more.
10. A study out of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston suggests treating low testosterone levels in men over the age of 66 can significantly decreased risk of hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge. Read more.