Seasonal flu activity continues to decline, latest data shows … CDC: Omicron variant XBB.1.5 now makes up nearly half of COVID cases … A record low: Less than half of Americans are happy with...
CMS to begin audits for schizophrenia coding, says citations will affect quality ratings
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 19, 2023
The agency will start auditing nursing homes this month to determine whether residents’ schizophrenia diagnoses are accurate and appropriately coded. A pattern of inaccurate coding may result in a quality...
CDC: Stroke ‘very unlikely’ in seniors who receive updated COVID vaccine booster
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 18, 2023
The CDC is investigating bivalent booster shot safety after one of its monitoring systems flagged a potential risk of stroke among seniors.
Two drugs commonly used to treat heart failure equally improve patient survival, a finding that has “immediate clinical applications,” investigators say.
Tap water is not sterile for use in medical devices; many people unaware, CDC finds
Jan 13, 2023
Large numbers of Americans mistakenly believe that tap water is safe for use in home medical devices such as CPAP machines, a CDC survey reveals.
U.S. vaccine acceptance grows by 20 percent from 2021 to 2022: survey
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 12, 2023
“Vaccination remains a cornerstone of the COVID-19 pandemic response, but broad public support remains elusive,” the researchers said.
Amyloid brain plaques not a sure sign of Alzheimer’s, researchers find
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 12, 2023
A new study challenges the theory that an increase in brain amyloid protein signals Alzheimer’s disease. The findings may be especially relevant to clinicians as amyloid-targeting drugs such as Leqembi...
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, Jan. 11
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 11, 2023
Biden administration targets end of COVID emergency declaration … New hormone therapy may slow early-stage prostate cancer during active surveillance … Brain-computer interface for paralyzed patients...
With education and a doc’s OK, most seniors agree to deprescribe unneeded meds: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 10, 2023
Seniors are willing to take their doctor’s advice to discontinue an unneeded medication after viewing an educational video, investigators say.
U.S. stroke deaths on the rise after 4 decades of decline
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 09, 2023
Unless stroke prevention and treatment improves, total U.S. stroke fatalities will rise as the millennial generation ages, investigators say.