The five stages that healthcare institutions need to plan for in transitioning from COVID-19 to the new normal
As healthcare institutions shift gears towards a “new
normal,” leaders are facing a multifaceted challenge. To help deal with it,
McKinsey & Company, international consultants, has outlined five stages
that leaders must plan for. Please click here for a copy of
the report and to bring into focus how you can help guide your organization
through Resolve, Resilience, Return, Reimagine, and Reform. |
Passing of Homestead Hospital CNO Gail Gordon |
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The Nursing Consortium of South Florida mourns the passing of longtime CNO Gail Gordon. Gail was an active member of the
Consortium and regular conference attendee. "She was extremely
appreciative of the Consortium's dedication to unifying the region's nurse
leaders, and never hesitated to share her recommendations and
observations," recalled NCSF executive director Ralph Egües.
"The recently published tribute
to Gail by former BHSF executive and current Kidz Medical Services
president & CEO Wayne Brackin captures well the friend we've lost as does
the official BHSF Obituary." Rest in peace Gail, we miss you. |
CMS publishes “Opening up
America Again” - guidelines to help health systems resume elective procedures
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released “Opening up America Again,” new guidelines to assist healthcare systems on the process of resuming elective procedures that have been held up due to the national emergency. CMS recommends a gradual transition depending on testing capacity, workforce availability and other factors. The agency also cautions that any decisions to resume procedures are subject to local and state regulations. |
NCSF sets November 20 as date for next educational
conference
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The DAISY Foundation Co-Founders and authors of the new book Shining the Light On All the Right, Bonnie and Mark Barnes, will be the conference's afternoon keynotes. Conference attendees will learn how meaningful recognition advances nursing practice from the couple that turned personal tragedy into an internationally renowned recognition program through which patients, families, and co-workers at more than 4,300 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing may express their gratitude to nurses for above-and-beyond compassionate care. Additional presentations will highlight initiatives by South Florida’s leading healthcare organizations to advance high performing bedside nursing. Join us for what is sure to be an extraordinary learning and networking opportunity. Broward Health is the presenting sponsor. For additional sponsor and exhibitor opportunities, please click here. |
Novel Clinical Trial Designs for Gene-Based Therapies: Proceedings of a Workshop
The design of clinical trials for gene therapy products
is often complex and can present many translational, clinical, and ethical
issues, including challenges with determining an optimal dosage, delivering the
product effectively, and successfully recruiting patients and following them
over the long term. Recognizing the potential design complexities and ethical
issues, the Forum on Regenerative Medicine held a 1-day workshop in Washington, DC, on November 13, 2019, to
explore these issues with a variety of stakeholders in greater detail. Speakers
at the workshop discussed patient recruitment and selection for gene-based
clinical trials, explored how the safety of new therapies is assessed, reviewed
the challenges involving dose escalation, and spoke about ethical issues such
as informed consent and the role of clinicians in recommending trials as
options to their patients. The workshop also included discussions of
topics related to gene therapies in the context of other available and
potentially curative treatments, such as bone marrow transplantation for
hemoglobinopathies. This new publication summarizes the presentation and
discussion of the workshop.
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SAMHSA providing updates to FAQs on substance abuse treatment during the crisis
The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is providing continuous updates to Frequently Asked Questions (FQA’s) about the use of methadone and buprenorphine for treating opioid use disorder which has increased notable during the coronavirus pandemic. The list of FQA’s gives answers to questions such as: “Can a practitioner working in an Opioid Treatment Program admit a new patient with opioid use disorder to an Opioid Treatment Program using telehealth (including use of telephone, if needed)? -- and similar queries. Click here to see the latest SAMHSA FQA’s
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OXXO Care Cleaners offers free dry cleaning and laundry
services to nurses
OXXO Care Cleaners is now offering nurses and other healthcare professionals, and first-responders free dry cleaning and laundry services at participating locations. The free service includes 24/7 drop off and pick up or free pickup and delivery at the participating stores in South Florida and nationwide. OXXO will be using ozone treatment in this garment processing to achieve the highest possible levels of cleanliness and sterilization. Please click here for participating sites and other details. |
OXXO stores provide an ATM-style system of 24-hour drop off and pick up.Users need only open a street-facing machine slot and slide in their bag of clothes. When the clothes are cleaned and sterilized, customers can retrieve them from the automated dispenser. |
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Report in NEJM suggests heart attacks in COVID -19 patients may be triggered by atypical causes
A study of 18 patients at a New York hospital, with severe coronavirus who were also showing symptoms of a heart attack on their electrocardiograms revealed some atypical results that can affect proper diagnosis. More than 50% of the cases showed no blockage of a major artery, the key factor that triggers a heart attack. Yet 13 of the patients died of cardiac causes. The real underlying cause for some cardiac deaths in these patients may be the stress, physical and otherwise, caused by COVID-19, said one leading cardiologist. The study was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Click here to read more. (Source: U.S. News, 4/20/2020. By E.J. Mundell, HealthDay Reporter) |
N95 masks can be sanitized for reuse up to three times according to a study by NIH scientists
A recent study by the National Institutes of Health showed that N95 respirator masks can be effectively decontaminated and maintain integrity for up to three uses. The study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, and the results were posted on a preprint server. Decontamination methods tested included vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP), 70-degree Celsius dry heat, ultraviolet light, and 70% ethanol spray. The VHP method was the most effective decontamination method, because no virus could be detected after only a 10-minute treatment. UV and dry heat were acceptable decontamination procedures as long as the methods are applied for atleast 60 minutes. Investigators who conducted the study are with NIH’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana, part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), with collaborators from the University of California, Los Angeles. |
Stay well-informed through weekly CMS COVID-19 engagement calls
CMS hosts varied recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19.These sessions are open to members of the healthcare community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts.Call details are below. Conference lines are limited so CMS highly encourages you to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser. CMS encourages you to share this invitation with your colleagues and professional networks. CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:00 – 6:00PM EST. Click here for recordings of recent call sessions and transcripts posted on the CMS podcast page.
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