November / December Clinical Leadership & Infection Control Issue
November / December Clinical Leadership & Infection Control Issue
ON THE COVER
How Penn Medicine uses VR to help ease anxious minds
Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia unveiled a virtual reality mindfulness program in September that allows patients, hospital staff or visitors to relax at the facility, according to The Inquirer. CLICK TO CONTINUE
How Christiana Care administered 7k+ flue shots to employees in 1 day
Wilmington, Del.-based Christiana Care Health System held a mass flue vaccination campaign for employees across more than 70 healthcare locations in four states on Oct. 11. CLICK TO CONTINUE
It’s not just ‘Stayin’ Alive’ — Here’s why NewYork-Presbyterian built a Spotify playlist for CPR
More than 350,000 people suffer from cardiac arrest each year outside the hospital setting, according to the American Heart Association. CLICK TO CONTINUE
CareChex: Top 10 quality hospitals for overall hospital care 2019
Quantros, a performance analytics company, released the CareChex 2019 rankings for hospital and health system quality and patient safety Oct. 23. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Rush hospital nurse: Why providers should revisit how they discuss death with patients
Providers often struggle to have open end-of-life discussions with critically ill patients, prompting a need for hospital leaders to reevaluate how nurses discuss death and dying, a nurse argued in an op-ed for The Hill. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Michigan nurse donates kidney to her patient
Iris Zink, MSN, RN, went above and beyond the call of duty to keep patients healthy by donating a kidney to one of her longtime patients at Lansing (Mich.) Rheumatology, reported Fox 47 News. CLICK TO CONTINUE
'AI Clinician' outperforms physicians in treating sepsis patients
An artificial intelligence software system trained to recommend sepsis treatments achieved better patient outcomes than physician-recommended treatments, according to a study published in Nature Medicine. CLICK TO CONTINUE
INFECTION CONTROL & PATIENT SAFETY
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub on Oct. 16 unveiled the soft launch of an analytics platform to surveil infectious diseases, rolled out with the support of another technology billionaire’s philanthropy: the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Hospital linens may be source of C. diff outbreaks, study finds
Commercial laundering processes using industrial detergent and high disinfecting temperatures do not completely eliminate the presence of Clostridium difficile bacteria on hospital sheets, according to a study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Care concerns emerge from Missouri’s ‘assistant physician’ licensure program
After the Missouri legislature created a category of physician licensure to curb primary care physician shortages in rural areas, researchers voiced concerns these assistant physicians’ low first-time pass rates on licensing exams could lead to worse clinical outcomes, JAMA reported. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Hospital privacy curtains are breeding MRSA, study finds
Privacy curtains in hospitals can pose a thread to patient safety, with high percentages of curtains testing a positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Hospitals lead healthcare worker vaccinations, CDC says
About 92 percent of hospital workers reported receiving a flu vaccine during the 2017-18 flu season, compared to 75 percent of ambulatory care workers and 67 percent of long0term care workers, according to a survey released Sept. 28 by the CDC. CLICK TO CONTINUE
4 flu preparedness lessons from the 1918 pandemic
The 1918 flu pandemic offers several lessons on infection control and outbreak response efforts for health officials today, according to a study published Oct. 8 in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Sunlight can kill infection-causing bacteria indoors, study find
Rooms exposed to daylight contain fewer germs than those with less light, a study published in Microbiome found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
EEOC sues Saint Thomas Health over mandatory flu shot policy
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against Nashville, Tenn.-based Saint Thomas Health Sept. 28, alleging Murfreesboro, Tenn.-based Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital violated federal law by ordering an employee to receive a flu shot despite his religious beliefs. CLICK TO CONTINUE
How Christiana Care administered 7k+ flue shots to employees in 1 day
Wilmington, Del.-based Christiana Care Health System held a mass flue vaccination campaign for employees across more than 70 healthcare locations in four states on Oct. 11. CLICK TO CONTINUE
How DNA tests can help physicians detect infectious diseases faster
Hospitals are looking to genetic sequencing services to identify pathogens that make patients sick, Wired reported. CLICK TO CONTINUE
‘Eyeballing’ patients may find sickest ones more effectively than formal assessment
When assessing patients, simply eyeballing them may prove more effective than using a formal structured algorithm to prioritize those who need urgent medical care most, a study published in Emergency Medicine Journal found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
3 hospitals honored for eliminating patient deaths
The Patient Safety Movement Foundation teamed up with the Carter Foundation for the fourth consecutive year on an initiative to eliminate patient deaths. CLICK TO CONTINUE
‘Patient safety room of horrors’ helps med students prepare for hospital mishaps
At the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, a “patient safety room of horrors” is helping medical students and residents identity hospital room mistakes before they occur, according to a blog post on the AMA Wire. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Big cities need more epidemiologists, health officials say
Many major cities in the U.S. staff fewer epidemiologists than recommended by state staffing rations, according to a survey from the Big Cities Health Coalition and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. CLICK TO CONTINUE
How a Novant Health hospital reduced infections by 70%
Salisbury, N.C.-based Novant Health Rowan Medical Center celebrated a 70 percent decrease in hospital-acquired infections since 2016, and as of Oct. 27, the hospital had no infections for the month, according to the Salisbury Post. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Michigan nurse donates kidney to her patient
Iris Zink, MSN, RN, went above and beyond the call of duty to keep patients healthy by donating a kidney to one of her longtime patients at Lansing (Mich.) Rheumatology, reported Fox 47 News. CLICK TO CONTINUE
1 in 4 seriously ill patients report critical medical error
Nearly one in four seriously ill patients said they have experienced a serious medical error, a survey found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Hospitals struggle to sustain preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks
Since the Ebola outbreak of 2014, hospitals in the U.S. have drastically improved their ability to deal with emerging infectious diseases, according to a report from HHS’ Office of Inspector General. CLICK TO CONTINUE
WHO-based intervention increases hand hygiene compliance to 80%+
Astudy published in the Journal of Hospital Infection examined the effect and sustainability of a multimodal improvement program for hand hygiene based on the World Health Organization strategy. CLICK TO CONTINUE
PATIENT EXPERIENCE
It’s not just ‘Stayin’ Alive’ — Here’s why NewYork-Presbyterian built a Spotify playlist for CPR
More than 350,000 people suffer from cardiac arrest each year outside the hospital setting, according to the American Heart Association. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Older, sicker patients often uncomfortable speaking up about problems during hospital stays
Although patients are encouraged to share safety concerns with providers, 30 percent do not always feel comfortable speaking up, a study published in BMJ Quality & Safety found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Rush hospital nurse: Why providers should revisit how they discuss death with patients
Providers often struggle to have open end-of-life discussions with critically ill patients, prompting a need for hospital leaders to reevaluate how nurses discuss death and dying, a nurse argued in an op-ed for The Hill. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Viewpoint: How to turn ’10 minutes into 20’ with a patient
Faced with “ever-shrinking time slots” for appointments, physicians must learn how to make the most out of the time they do have for face-to-face encounters with patients, Suneel Dhand, MD, an internal medicine physician and author, wrote in an op-ed for Medpage Today. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Medical scribes linked to better patient experience, physician workflow
The use of medical scribes to track physician-patient encounters in real time for primary care visits was linked to significant reductions in EHR documentation time and improvements in physician productivity and job satisfaction, a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Why every physician at Mount Sinai’s children’s hospital carries referral cards for therapy dogs
New York City-based Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital employs two unlikely workers — a pair of goldendoodles named Professor and Amos, reported Business Insider. CLICK TO CONTINUE
How Penn Medicine uses VR to help ease anxious minds
Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia unveiled a virtual reality mindfulness program in September that allows patients, hospital staff or visitors to relax at the facility, according to The Inquirer. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Community health workers double patients’ satisfaction, cut hospital stays
Community health workers, or laypeople who support high-risk patients facing social issues, can help reduce hospital stays by 65 percent and double patient satisfaction with primary care, a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Where do patients share physician reviews online? 5 survey insights
Facebook is one of the most common places patients share physician experiences online, but users don’t use the social network to assess their next provider, according to a survey from Binary Fountain, an online reputation management company. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Patients say Googling health symptoms improves communication with physicians
Adults who search for health information on the internet before visiting the hospital say it improves communication with their physician, according to a study published in The Medical Journal of Australia. CLICK TO CONTINUE
California hospital lets young surgery patients drive to OR
Modesto, Calif.-based Doctors Medical Center lets pediatric patients drive to the operating room in mini cars, which helps alleviate stress before surgery, according to KTVU Fox 2. CLICK TO CONTINUE
How medical schools are battling stereotypes about elderly patients
Medical schools across the U.S. are implementing programs to introduce students to healthy, active elders in an effort to ensure medical students have an accurate perception of these patients, according to The New York Times. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Why Boston patients have longer appointment wait times
Boston residents often struggle to schedule medical appointments, even though the city has one of the highest per-capita rates of physicians and houses some of the country's best hospitals, Boston Magazine reported. CLICK TO CONTINUE
More regulations cutting into time with patients, physicians say
Physician practices are increasingly burdened with regulations that have taken time away from patients in the last year, a Medical Group Management Association survey found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Why this Michelin-star chef left the restaurant industry to cook in hospitals
Patrick Wodni, once a chef at a popular Michelin-starred restaurant in Berlin, now prepares gourmet hospital meals using local, organic food on a budget, according to The New York Times. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Missouri children’s hospital uses ‘medical version of Snapchat’ to give families surgery updates
Children’s Mercy Kansas City (Mo.) uses an app called EASE to update patient’s families on the progress of a procedure or surgery, according to KSHB–41 Action News. CLICK TO CONTINUE
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE & STEWARDSHIP
Breastfeeding linked to less antibiotic-resistant bacteria in infants, study finds
Breastfeeding may help infants develop gut bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics, according to a study published in Nature Communications. CLICK TO CONTINUE
How Case Western researchers are eliminating drug-resistant infections without antibiotics
Molecules designed to inhibit toxin formation in bacteria could prove an effective alternative to antibiotics, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Early antibiotic stewardship intervention lowers costs
Astudy in International Journal of Infectious Diseases examined the effects of earlier intervention by an antimicrobial stewardship team on various factors, including antimicrobial use and cost. CLICK TO CONTINUE
UC Berkeley researchers create rapid test to detect superbugs
Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley created a simple test to rapidly detect antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in ChemBioChem. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Study: Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing common for acute pancreatitis
Antibiotics are often misused to prevent or treat acute pancreatitis, even though international treatment guidelines indicate antibiotics should only be used when patients develop an infection, according to a study published in Pancreatology. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Hair-like structures on bacteria could open door for new antibiotics
The surface of pathogenic bacteria like E. coli contains hair-like structures called pili, which help bacteria bind to a host cell and stimulate infection. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Clinical checklist can cut antibiotic duration for staph infections, researchers find
Physicians shortened antibiotic duration for patients with uncomplicated staphylococcal bloodstream infections by about two days using a clinical checklist to identify eligible patients, a study published in JAMA found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Nearly half of outpatient antibiotics prescribed without infection diagnosis
One in five antibiotic prescriptions are provided without an in-person visit, and about half of outpatient antibiotics are prescribed without an infection-related diagnosis, according to a study presented at IDWeek 2018, an annual meeting for infectious diseases professionals. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Alternative antibiotics after C-sections may cause more infections
Using prophylactic antibiotics in cesarean-section delivery other than the recommended antibiotics, including cefazolin, was associated with a higher risk of surgical site infections, a study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Nearly half of patients will keep leftover antibiotics: 3 survey findings
It is common for people to give friends and family their unused antibiotics, particularly if they are in liquid or drop form, according to research that was presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition Nov. 5 in Orlando, Fla. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Are physicians overprescribing antibiotics to get higher ratings from patients?
Patients said they were most satisfied with their physician’s visit when they received an antibiotic for a respiratory tract infection, whether they needed the drug or not, a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Why superbug transmission occurs in 11% of nursing home interactions
A study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology examined the risk of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria transmission via healthcare workers’ gowns and gloves while providing care at community-based nursing facilities. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Antidepressants could be fueling superbug growth, study finds
A common antidepressant could be causing antibiotic resistance and contributing to the development of superbugs, according to a study published in Environmental International. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Study: Hospital sink traps may harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Sink traps may pose as hidden reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a study published Oct. 4 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Why giving antibiotics to dogs may help bacterial infections spread to people
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria that infected over 100 people and were associated with pet store puppies spread in part because healthy dogs received antibiotics — a decision contributing to antibiotic resistance, according to a study covered by STAT. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Probiotic use may decrease likelihood of antibiotic prescriptions among children
Using probiotics helped reduce antibiotic treatment given to infants and children, according to a study published in European Journal of Public Health. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Scientists turn to soil to combat antibiotic-resistant TB
An antibiotic present in soil may prove effective against antibiotic-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis — the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis, according to a study published in Nature Communications. CLICK TO CONTINUE
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT & MEASUREMENT
CareChex: Top 10 quality hospitals for overall hospital care 2019
Quantros, a performance analytics company, released the CareChex 2019 rankings for hospital and health system quality and patient safety Oct. 23. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Hospitals that use accrediting organizations don’t have lower death rates, study finds
A study published in The BMJ found no association between U.S. hospitals that get accredited by independent organizations such as the Joint Commission and lower death rates. CLICK TO CONTINUE
San Antonio hospitals report better trauma outcomes after ambulances stock blood for transfusions
San Antonio paramedics now carry whole blood in their ambulances to perform transfusions on trauma patients, and some local hospitals are reporting better outcomes as a result, according to EMS1.com. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Discharging heart patients on weekends not linked to higher readmission rates, study finds
Discharging a cardiac surgery patient on a weekend or holiday does not affect hospital readmission rates, according to a study published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. CLICK TO CONTINUE
IU Health forms 16 clinical councils to boost care quality
Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health developed 16 physician-led clinical councils this year to help improve care quality and reduce costs. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Readmission risk jumps 2.9% for every day spent in rural hospital
Healthcare facilities in rural cities across southern Appalachia report readmission rates well above the national average, in part due to increased length of stays and a patient population with a history of smoking and multiple comorbidities, according to a study published in CHEST. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Hospital-acquired conditions dropped 21% in 5 years
Hospitals and health systems have significantly reduced hospital-acquired conditions, unplanned readmissions and healthcare-associated infections over the last 10 years, according to a report from the American Hospital Association. CLICK TO CONTINUE
In-hospital death risk higher among heart failure patients with do-not-resuscitate orders
A study published in the International Journal of General Medicine analyzed the influence of do-not-resuscitate orders on heart failure performance measures. CLICK TO CONTINUE
US News medical school rankings have little effect on patient outcomes, study finds
There is little or no relation between U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the medical school a physician attended and subsequent patient mortality or readmission rates, a study published in The BMJ found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
CMS eases readmission penalties for safety-net hospitals
Partially because of a push from Congress, CMS is easing its penalties for 30-day readmissions for hundreds of safety-net hospitals, according to NPR. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Septic shock mortality rates improved since ‘surviving sepsis’ guidelines released
Overall mortality rates in septic shock improved in the 10 years after the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines were introduced in 2004, a study published in CHEST found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
HAIs can be cut up to 55% through infection control interventions, study finds
Care facilities can cut healthcare-associated infections by up to 55 percent through evidence-based infection control interventions, regardless of a country’s economic status, a review of 144 studies published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Physicians’ choice: Best hospitals for treating key conditions
In a survey asking physicians to rank their hospital preferences for the treatment of several conditions, Rochester, Minn.- based Mayo Clinic was ranked highest for the treatment of six of the 10 conditions, and Houston-based MD Anderson Cancer Center took the top spot in treating all five cancer types, a Medscape survey found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
4 ways to avoid communication errors during patient handoffs
As medical residents transfer patients from one team member to another, they can focus on several key strategies to avoid communication errors, according to a blog post on the AMA Wire. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Vishal Bhatia, MD, chief medical information officer at RCCH HealthCare Partners in Brentwood, Tenn., discusses the evolution of his role as CMIO and how artificial intelligence, natural language processing and voice recognition technologies can improve healthcare. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Understanding patient experience can help curb unneeded tests
When providers make efforts to better understand patients' experiences during imaging tests, it can help them decide whether or not these tests are necessary during care, a study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology found. CLICK TO CONTINUE
DATA INFORMATICS & ANALYTICS
Google creates AI to detect when breast cancer spreads
Google’s artificial intelligence algorithm LYNA accurately detects the spread of breast cancer — but the company is taking pains to highlight that the tool is meant to assist, not replace, human pathologists. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Penn Medicine researchers predict depression diagnoses from Facebook posts
A Facebook user’s language ticks may tip off a clinician to their likelihood of developing depression, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. CLICK TO CONTINUE
NYU uses Google's AI to identify lung cancer
Researchers at New York University in New York City trained an artificial intelligence algorithm developed by Google to distinguish between two common types of lung cancer, Wired reported. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Researchers at Stanford (Calif.) University found hospital-acquired bloodstream infections often begin in a patient’s digestive tract, according to a small study published by Nature Medicine. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Seattle database tracks superbugs, helps hospitals find best drugs to fight them
To better equip hospitals in the fight against antibiotic resistance, a group of physicians and scientists in Seattle launched a nonprofit organization in September to develop a database of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the Seattle Times reported. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Duke University Hospital rolls out AI system for sepsis
Durham, N.C.-based Duke University Hospital in November launched Sepsis Watch, a system that uses artificial intelligence to help identify patients in the early stages of sepsis, according to IEEE Spectrum. CLICK TO CONTINUE
'AI Clinician' outperforms physicians in treating sepsis patients
An artificial intelligence software system trained to recommend sepsis treatments achieved better patient outcomes than physician-recommended treatments, according to a study published in Nature Medicine. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Machine learning model helps scientists identify source of deadly viruses
Researchers created a machine learning software that analyzes virus' genetic information to predict which groups of animals the virus will likely spread to, according to a paper published Nov. 1 in Science. CLICK TO CONTINUE
Johns Hopkins researchers develop tool to predict patient no-shows
Researchers from Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University’s Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare have created an algorithm to reduce patient no-shows and increase appointment availability. CLICK TO CONTINUE
AI tools to detect infection fall short when analyzing data across health systems
Artificial intelligence tools trained to detect pneumonia on chest X-rays significantly decreased in performance when tested on data at multiple health systems, a study published in PLOS Medicine found. CLICK TO CONTINUE