November/December 2023 Issue of Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection Control
ON THE COVER
The technique that could cut central line infection rates by 47%
Having a trained nurse or nurse team present during central line procedures or catheter insertion reduces the chance of infection for patients by 47%, according to new research from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control.
CDC panel backs looser guidance on hospital masking
A CDC advisory committee voted Nov. 3 to finalize a draft of infection control guidelines that recommends healthcare workers wear masks during routine care to prevent the spread of common, endemic respiratory infections — a move National Nurses United has condemned for not going far enough to protect patients and staff from aerosol transmission.
Hospitals regain lost ground in HAI fight
Hospitals are making strides in reducing healthcare-associated infections after a major spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data from The Leapfrog Group.
The human toll of surgical outcome disparities
More than 12,000 deaths could have been avoided if racial disparities in medicine and surgery had been addressed at the root, according to new research from the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
Where 'automation has not been kind to nursing'
While automation holds the lucrative promise for many fields of removing mundane tasks from workloads, some nurse leaders are hopeful — but questioning — if emerging technology will do the same in their field.
Safety and on-site hospital leadership: A complex balance
The COVID-19 pandemic forced healthcare organizations to think differently about the workplace. Hospital and health system employees, particularly certain non-clinical staff, started working remotely when the crisis struck.
How hospitals can prevent the most common sentinel event
Falls are the most common sentinel event resulting in harm or death of hospital patients so far in 2023, according to data from The Joint Commission.
Why 1 hospital president is focusing equity efforts on post-discharge
Alison Brown, RN, president of University of Maryland Medical Center's Midtown Campus in Baltimore, knows that it takes data to move the needle forward on health equity in a measurable way.
Why human creativity is essential to healthcare safety
Integrating human factors is essential for the future of healthcare safety and sustainability, but many systems are working against the system instead of toward it, an op-ed piece in Science Direct written by five physicians said.
A gap in front-line staff training — and how Lifespan is closing it
"If you see something, say something." It's a phrase familiar to front-line staff who hospitals and health systems in large part rely on to report safety risks and events, but in many cases, a key component is missing: Training.
Could hospital-acquired infections be prevented with new vaccine?
Hospital-acquired infections have been on the rise in recent years, but a possible new vaccine developed by researchers could be given to patients upon arrival to help prevent antibiotic-resistant infections.
Dr. Fauci's worst fear post-COVID-19: A short memory
In the 38 years Anthony Fauci, MD, spent as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, he was often asked what his worst nightmare was. His answer remained consistent: The emergence of a new viral pathogen capable of spreading quickly and causing significant morbidity and mortality.
INFECTION CONTROL
Hospitals regain lost ground in HAI fight
Hospitals are making strides in reducing healthcare-associated infections after a major spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data from The Leapfrog Group.
The technique that could cut central line infection rates by 47%
Having a trained nurse or nurse team present during central line procedures or catheter insertion reduces the chance of infection for patients by 47%, according to new research from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control.
Could hospital-acquired infections be prevented with new vaccine?
Hospital-acquired infections have been on the rise in recent years, but a possible new vaccine developed by researchers could be given to patients upon arrival to help prevent antibiotic-resistant infections.
The type of virus that may cause the next pandemic
While some health experts suggest that the next pandemic could be between five and 10 years away, what that pandemic could be caused by and if the U.S. will be ready for it are separate questions.
The condition behind 10.8M 'avoidable' deaths a year
The World Health Organization on Sept. 19 published its first-ever report on high blood pressure — a condition behind 10.8 million avoidable deaths every year, according to the report.
PATIENT SAFETY & OUTCOMES
This specialty could reduce healthcare spending
Primary care providers are an important factor in improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare spending, but the system is showing cracks, The Washington Post reported Oct. 17.
How 1 ED boosted pediatric readiness
A 25-bed hospital in Colorado is among the most prepared facilities in the nation to treat pediatric patients in its emergency department, The Wall Street Journal reported Oct. 25.
Why human creativity is essential to healthcare safety
Integrating human factors is essential for the future of healthcare safety and sustainability, but many systems are working against the system instead of toward it, an op-ed piece in Science Direct written by five physicians said.
The value of the second opinion
Earlier this year, researchers published results from the first study to quantify the burden of misdiagnoses in the U.S., which found nearly 800,000 people are permanently disabled or die from diagnostic errors.
2nd patient to receive pig heart transplant dies
The world's second patient transplanted with a genetically modified pig heart has died, the University of Maryland School of Medicine said Oct. 31.
PATIENT & CAREGIVER EXPERIENCE
Safety and on-site hospital leadership: A complex balance
The COVID-19 pandemic forced healthcare organizations to think differently about the workplace. Hospital and health system employees, particularly certain non-clinical staff, started working remotely when the crisis struck.
Women less likely than men to get CPR in public
Women are less likely than men to receive CPR in public places, but older people, especially older men, are less likely to get CPR in private locations, new research has found.
Viewpoint: 1 problem fueling preventable deaths
A lack of emergency blood transfusions is a national crisis "fueling" preventable deaths, three physicians wrote in a JAMA opinion piece Oct. 12.
Why healthcare should ditch life span measures for this instead: Viewpoint
The next national health goal should focus on health span, not life span, Dave Chokshi, MD, a physician at Bellevue Hospital and a professor at the City University of New York, both based in New York City, wrote in an opinion piece published Sept. 28 in The New York Times.
Viewpoint: The risks of patient codes of conduct
More hospitals are turning to patient codes of conducts to protect healthcare workers amid a rise in rude and violent behavior. However, banning patients — especially those with behavioral health needs — who don't exhibit physical threats can pose a care quality concern, Lisa Morrise wrote in a Sept. 12 blog post for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT & MEASUREMENT
A gap in front-line staff training — and how Lifespan is closing it
"If you see something, say something." It's a phrase familiar to front-line staff who hospitals and health systems in large part rely on to report safety risks and events, but in many cases, a key component is missing: Training.
Half of long COVID-19 patients don't improve after 1.5 years
More than 50% of patients experiencing long COVID-19 did not improve after 18 months, according to new study findings that included more than 800 patients.
Why 1 hospital president is focusing equity efforts on post-discharge
Alison Brown, RN, president of University of Maryland Medical Center's Midtown Campus in Baltimore, knows that it takes data to move the needle forward on health equity in a measurable way.
The human toll of surgical outcome disparities
More than 12,000 deaths could have been avoided if racial disparities in medicine and surgery had been addressed at the root, according to new research from the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
Gen Z's healthcare views could reshape medical care, public health: Study
A nationwide poll of Generation Z Americans conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges Center for Health Justice found that the majority of people, despite political affiliation, agree that healthcare is a basic human right.
NURSING SPOTLIGHT
Where 'automation has not been kind to nursing'
While automation holds the lucrative promise for many fields of removing mundane tasks from workloads, some nurse leaders are hopeful — but questioning — if emerging technology will do the same in their field.
Nurse-patient ratios can solve staffing crisis: ANA
The American Nurses Association announced its support of the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act, which would establish minimum nurse-to-patient ratios nationwide.
Why 1 chief nurse nixed 'challenges' from her vocabulary
Dianne Aroh, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer at Tacoma, Wash.-based Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, is passionate about turning every challenge into an opportunity.
The benefits of rehiring 'boomerang' nurses
In May, some hospitals started reporting a positive trend: Former nurses who left their full-time positions for travel gigs or earlier in the pandemic were interested in returning.