It’s official: Omicron causes less severe COVID-19 illness than prior variants, CDC study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 26, 2022
The SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant is much less likely to cause severe illness and death than its predecessors, according to a new analysis of U.S. data from December 2020 through mid-January 2022.
Pharmacists poised to continue transition into direct care roles, survey finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 25, 2022
Pharmacists will continue to move into central roles in healthcare, including chronic disease management in the adult patient population, the authors say.
CDC: Prior infection plus vaccination tied to lower COVID-19 case rates
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 20, 2022
A new public health study suggests not only that vaccination protects against developing severe illness, but that surviving a bout with COVID-19 prevents reinfection, investigators say.
Report: Nearly 80 percent of U.S. workers want employers to encourage or require vax for in-person staff
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 20, 2022
U.S. workers have been rattled by the omicron surge and most are looking to their employer to stay fully engaged in COVID-19 precautions, analysts say.
Nursing home clinicians still overdiagnose UTIs despite antibiotic stewardship efforts: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 14, 2022
As a group, primary care providers and RNs misclassified UTIs about one-third of the time, an investigator tells McKnight’s. Nurses had greater odds of an incorrect assessment.
Long-term care providers who’ve been flummoxed about recent infection control guidance coming from federal health agencies are not alone.
With omicron spreading fast, officials implore nursing home providers to push COVID-19 booster shots
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 07, 2022
The surgeon general and CMS administrator Brooks-LaSure urged providers to “cut through the noise” about vaccines as outbreaks increase across facilities. Less than 28% of staff have gotten...
Despite outsider-driven COVID outbreaks, providers face continued demand for risky visits
By
Kimberly Marselas
Alicia Lasek
Jan 07, 2022
Multiple providers have said that they are irritated that attempts to strengthen infection control measures are sometimes being undermined by facility visitors. “Nursing homes must be allowed to...
Clinical briefs for Monday, Dec. 20
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 20, 2021
Latest draft of Build Back Better includes $800M to improve infection control, staffing … Healthcare providers must counter ‘deeply rooted’ COVID-19 misinformation, surveyors say … New study highlights...
Advice from healthcare providers increases vaccination rates, new study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 17, 2021
A nudge from a healthcare provider makes a big difference in who is likely to get vaccinated, new evidence reveals.