Medical educators are changing their curriculum to reflect COVID-19’s impact on workforce shortages and the need for various clinicians, Catherine Lucey, MD, professor and vice dean for education at the University of California San Francisco Medical School, said in a Jan. 2 interview with NPR.

Reports of verbal and physical abuse against staff at San Diego-based Scripps Health have risen 17 percent through September compared to last year, CBS 8 reported Dec. 23. 

CMS issued a final rule Dec. 17 that will fund 1,000 additional medical residency positions in hospitals serving rural and underserved communities. 

Los Angeles-based Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center named Thomas Yadegar, MD, the 2021 Murray Mazur Physician of the Year, it said Dec. 10. 

Legislation to address the nation's physician burnout crisis is one step closer to becoming law after passing in the House of Representatives Dec. 8. 

The Federation of State Medical Boards on Dec. 9 released findings from its annual survey showing that 67 percent of its members have experienced an increase in complaints related to licensee dissemination of untrue or misleading COVID-19 information. 

Due to a new statute state lawmakers passed during a special session, Tennessee's medical licensing board voted Dec. 7 to remove from its website a policy opposing COVID-19 misinformation, a board spokesperson confirmed to Becker's.  

A vaccination mandate may be the only way to break the cycle of surging COVID-19 infections that are pushing some hospitals to the brink, Rob Davidson, MD, emergency physician in a rural area of West Michigan and executive director of the Committee to Protect Health Care, wrote in an op-ed published Dec. 8 by The New York Times.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Yazoo, a 25-bed critical access hospital in Yazoo City, Miss., has asked that a physician no longer be scheduled after he requested using ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients, the hospital confirmed to Becker's.

When comparing the 2020 and 2021 academic years, U.S. medical schools attracted and enrolled a more diverse class and saw the total number of applicants grow nearly 18 percent, according to data released Dec. 8 by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta is giving each of its 754 students $6,300 to cover various expenses, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

A severely ill COVID-19 patient at UPMC Memorial hospital in Shiloh, Pa., received a dose of ivermectin Nov. 6 after a court order issued Nov. 3, USA Today reports. 

The Iowa Hospital Association will award 60 scholarships of up to $7,000 and $1,000 to students in emergency technology and technician certification educational programs.

Chicago-based CommonSpirit and Morehouse School of Medicine announced Nov. 30 the development of three undergraduate and four graduate medical education sites aiming to diversify the clinician workforce and to improve both access and quality of care.

A Maine regulatory board said it suspended a physician's license to practice after reviewing multiple COVID-19 "exemption letters" signed by Paul Gosselin, DO, as well as provider reports that Dr. Gosselin spread misinformation about the virus.

Plastic surgeons, general surgeons, orthopedists and urologists were the top four physician specialities facing medical malpractice suits in 2021, according to the 2021 Medscape Malpractice Report published Nov. 19. 

In 2008, Cleveland Clinic instituted a peer-based coaching and mentoring program for physicians and scientists to promote a proactive approach to clinician well-being for allcomers, which officials estimate has saved the health system at least $133 million in physician retention alone in 2020. 

The Indiana Department of Health on Nov. 22 announced a partnership with Purdue University on an initiative aiming to increase health equity across the state.

Some healthcare systems have launched new residency programs and partnerships to address workforce shortages persisting around the country.

Caravan Health announced Nov. 17 a partnership with Quint Studer, an entrepreneur and author, to bring critical resources to support and replenish physicians and hospital staff through a series of live and virtual events to be held during the first quarter of 2022.