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 July 19, 2010 | PRO-LIFE GROUPS WIN A ROUND IN HEALTHCARE OVERHAUL - Pro-life advocates have won a round as the Obama-administration decides to prohibit most obortion coverage for insurance pools for Americans who are unable to purchase health care on their own. In addition, the Health and Human Services Department announced last week the program will not cover abortions except in cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life is in danger — exceptions traditionally allowed under federal law. Starting in 2014, the overhaul will allow federally subsidized health insurance plans to cover abortions, but only if policyholders pay for coverage separately and the money is segregated from government funds. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| July 13, 2010 | BAXTER HEALTHCARE INFUSION PUMP RECALL - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today required Baxter Healthcare Corp. to take specific steps to carry out the April 2010 recall of all Colleague Volumetric Infusion Pumps (CVIP) and to provide customers with a refund, a replacement pump, or lease termination.
Baxter is responsible for recalling as many as 200,000 CVIP currently in use in the United States. Under the FDA’s requirements, Baxter will also provide a transition guide to assist customers affected by the recall. The guide will include a list of FDA-cleared or approved pump alternatives, suggestions to help minimize disruption and patient risk during the transition period, and detailed information on the refund, replacement, and lease termination programs.
“FDA is requiring Baxter to provide replacements or refunds for these recalled devices,” said Jeffrey Shuren, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “This action reflects the agency’s commitment to protect patients by removing unsafe infusion pumps and to promote public health through assuring the availability of safe and effective alternatives.”
Baxter will continue to provide batteries, spare parts, and service for the affected pumps during the transition period for customers who submit a Certificate of Medical Necessity to Baxter. The certificate, provided by Baxter, asks for information such as the number of CVIP currently in use, serial numbers, and the anticipated date that the CVIP will be removed from use. After receiving the completed certificate, Baxter will continue service for 24 months after today’s date, or until the customer has transitioned to another pump.
Baxter will complete the recall and the replace or refund programs by July 14, 2012.
“Baxter’s Colleague infusion pumps are commonly found in many hospitals and facilities,” said Dr. Shuren. “Considering the size of the recall the FDA reached out directly to the hospital community in order to determine what would best fit their needs in a transition plan.”
Infusion pumps are devices that deliver fluids, including nutrients and medications, into a patient’s body in a controlled manner. They are widely used in hospitals, other clinical settings and, increasingly, in the home, because they allow a greater level of accuracy in fluid delivery.
The FDA has been working with Baxter since 1999 to correct numerous flaws in the CVIP, that have been the subject of several Class I recalls for battery failures, inadvertent powering off, service data errors, and other issues.
In June 2006, the FDA obtained a consent decree of permanent injunction in which Baxter agreed to stop manufacturing and distributing all models of the CVIP until the company corrected manufacturing deficiencies and brought the pumps into compliance with the law.
On April 8, 2010, Baxter submitted a proposed correction schedule for the CVIP that the FDA found unacceptable. The FDA ordered the recall and replace or refund action pursuant to the authority granted to the agency by the 2006 consent decree. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| July 11, 2010 | KALEIDA HEALTH CLOSING SOME CLINICS TO REDUCE COSTS - To reduce expenses, Kaleida health has closed the Wound Care Center at Millard Fillmore Hospital at Gates Circle, and the Wettlaufer Eye Clinic at Buffalo General Hospital is expected to close in the fall. Later this summer, the outpatient urology services at Millard Fillmore Hospital are planned to split between Millard Fillmore Suburban and Buffalo General hospitals.
The closures were an effort to cut spending by $12 million to $15 million. The fate of others, such as the Western New York Poison Control Center and the Shaken Baby Syndrome Program at Women & Children’s Hospital, are still unknown. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| July 9, 2010 | BOTOX APPROVED IN U.K. FOR MIGRAINES - Allergan Inc.'s wrinkle treatment, Botox, has been approved by the U.K's drug regulator to be used for preventing chronic migraine headaches. The UK is the first in the world to approve Botox for this purpose, and this decision could mean that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may also be approving it soon. Botox is used for cosmetic purposes and to treat certain neurological issues. When used for migraine, this will open a new therapeutic market for the company. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| July 8, 2010 | STUDY SHOWS FISH OIL COULD LOWER RISK OF BREAST CANCER - A new study shows that Omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in fish oil supplements, may reduce the risk of breast cancer. The study was conducted by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. They followed 35,016 post-menopausal women with no history of breast cancer. Those that regularly used fish oil supplements were 32% less likely to develop the most common form of breast cancer. Although it is too soon to recommend fish oils to prevent breast cancer, it has already been proven to lower the risk of death and heart attack in people with heart disease. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| July 6, 2010 | NEW GUIDELINE FOR BONE DENSITY TESTING - A new set of guidelines calls for all women to be screened for osteoporosis starting at age 65 and those with high risks could start earlier, at any age. The new guidelines are by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which is sponsored by the U.S. government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The original guidelines, which were established in 2002, had high risk women not starting until age 60. Women need to be screened much earlier than menopause since a woman starts losing bone at a maximal rate within two years of menopause. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 10 million people in the U.S. over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis usually beings after menopause and increases the risk of broken bones. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| July 6, 2010 | FIRST APPROVED IMPLANTABLE MINIATURE TELESCOPE TO IMPROVE SIGHT OF AMD PATIENTS - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced it has approved the Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT) to improve vision in some patients with end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Surgically implanted in one eye, the IMT is a small telescope that replaces the natural lens and provides an image that has been magnified more than two times.
AMD, a condition that mainly affects older people, damages the center of the retina (macula) and results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field. About 8 million people in the United States have AMD and nearly 2 million of them already have significant vision loss, according to the National Eye Institute. AMD can make it difficult or impossible to recognize faces or perform daily tasks such as reading or watching television.
"This innovation has the potential to provide many people with an improved quality of life," said Jeffrey Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
The IMT is available in two models: one that provides 2.2 times magnification and another 2.7 times magnification. The IMT is designed to magnify and project images onto a healthy portion of the retina. The IMT is intended to be implanted in only one eye; the non-implanted eye is used for peripheral vision.
The IMT is used in patients ages 75 years and older with stable severe to profound vision impairment (when vision impairment has not changed over time) caused by blind spots (bilateral central scotoma) associated with end-stage AMD. These patients also have evidence of a visually significant cataract.
Patients agree to undergo training with an external telescope with a low vision specialist prior to implantation to determine whether adequate improvement in vision with the external telescope can be obtained and to verify if the patient has adequate peripheral vision in the eye that would not be implanted. Patients also agree to participate in a post-operative visual training program.
In a 219-patient, multi-center clinical study of the IMT, 90 percent of patients achieved at least a 2-line gain in either their distance or best-corrected visual acuity, and 75 percent of patients improved their level of vision from severe or profound impairment to moderate impairment.
Because the IMT is a large device, implantation can lead to extensive loss of corneal endothelial cells (ECD), the layer of cells essential for maintaining the clarity of the cornea, and chronic endothelial cell loss. The chronic rate of endothelial cell loss is about 5 percent per year. Significant losses in ECD may lead to corneal edema, corneal decompensation, and the need for corneal transplant. In the study, 10 eyes had unresolved corneal edema, with five resulting in corneal transplants. The calculated five-year risk for unresolved corneal edema, corneal decompensation, and corneal transplant are 9.2 percent, 6.8 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively.
To ensure that the risks of IMT implantation are sufficiently and consistently communicated to patients, the FDA and the manufacturer created detailed labeling, including an Acceptance of Risk and Informed Decision Agreement, which patients must complete prior to IMT implantation. The agreement provides a guide for patients and their physicians to discuss the risks associated with IMT implantation. Patients should be given adequate time to review all of the information regarding the IMT.
As a condition of FDA approval, the manufacturer, VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies Inc. of Saratoga, Calif., must conduct two post-approval studies. In one study, VisionCare must continue follow-up on the subjects from its long-term follow-up cohort for an additional two years. Another study of 770 newly enrolled subjects will include an evaluation of the endothelial cell density and related adverse events for five years after implantation. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| July 2, 2010 | HEALTHCARE REFORM CAUSING TENSION BETWEEN NURSES AND HOSPITALS - A large part of healthcare reform revolves around affordable treatment, but in doing so, we may be temporarily jeopardizing effective care. Obama pledged to make the reform "deficit-neutral," which will require billions of dollars in funding cuts, primarily at hospitals. This is causing an increasing tension between hospitals and nurses. For example, in Minnesota last month, the largest nurses strike in U.S. history took place with over 12,000 RNs picketing to pressure local hospitals to cap the number of patients seen per nurse. A recent study from the University of Pennsylvania showed that smaller workloads can lower the risk of patient death during surgery. Currently, hospitals are resisting patient-per-nurse limits, but 18 states are considering caps or regulations, and they may soon have no choice. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 29, 2010 | FIRST GENERIC EFFEXOR EXTENDED RELEASE CAPSULES TO TREAT MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER - Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first generic version of Effexor XR capsules (venlafaxine hydrochloride) to treat major depressive disorder. Venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules in 37.5 milligram, 75 milligram and 150 milligram strengths have been approved to be manufactured by TEVA Pharmaceuticals, North Wales, PA.
“The approval of this widely used antidepressant is another example of the FDA’s efforts to increase access to safe and effective generic drugs,” said Keith Webber, Ph.D., deputy director of the Office of Pharmaceutical Science in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Access to treatments for depression is important because depression can interfere with a person’s daily life and routine, which can significantly affect relationships with family and friends.”
Symptoms of depression can include feelings of sadness, anxiety, emptiness, hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness or helplessness. Irritability and restlessness are also common symptoms of depression. Many people with depression lose interest in activities or hobbies and feel tired all the time.
The prescribing information (label) for the generic drug may differ from that of Effexor XR capsules because some uses of the drug and parts of the label are protected by patents and/or exclusivity held by the Effexor manufacturer, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Generic venlafaxine hydrochloride will have the same safety warnings as Effexor XR.
The drug has a boxed warning indicating that antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. The warning also notes that depression and other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts and actions. Some people may have a particularly high risk of having suicidal thoughts or actions. These include people who have or have a family history of bipolar illness (also called manic-depressive illness) or suicidal thoughts or actions. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 29, 2010 | NORTH GENERAL HOSPITAL TO CLOSE - North General Hospital, the 200-bed hospital that symbolizes the city’s political and philanthropic commitment to Harlem, has declared bankruptcy and is set to close by next week. North General received 36,000 visits a year. A large government-subsidized walk-in clinic will open in North General Building as soon as the hospital closes. The walk-in clinic, as well as nearby hospitals, will help pick up patients. The new clinic will receive Medicaid money and other grants to provide primary care, mental health care, dental care and school-based care to 80,000 patients a year. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 25, 2010 | WHOOPING COUGH EPIDEMIC IN CALIFORNIA - Whooping cough is being declared an epidemic in California. There have been 920 children infected with whooping cough since January, and it is expected to have increase to over 1,500 cases. Whooping cough is a bacterial infection with symptoms similar to a cold, except for a very distinct cough. The distinct cough is what makes the nickname whooping cough, while the technical term is pertussis. Over the past 30 years, cases of pertussis have been increasing. It is usually mild in adults and children, but can be life-threatening in infants. DTaP, a combination vaccine that also shields against tetanus and diphtheria, is given to children in five doses: once at ages 2, 4, and 6 months, once between 12 and 18 months, and once between 4 and 6 years old. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 23, 2010 | NURSE FROM ICONIC PICTURE OF KISSING SAILOR DIES AT AGE 91 - Today, Edith Shain, the iconic nurse who was photographed kissing an American sailor in Times Square, died today. The picture was taken on August 14,1945 after President Truman announced the war was over. The picture was first published in Life Magazine. After she was noted as the woman in the now famous picture, Shain was frequently invited to memorials, wreath-layings, and parades. She died at age 91 in her home in Los Angeles. She leaves behind three sons, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 23, 2010 | FLORIDA CAREER COLLEGE OFFERING TWO-YEAR NURSING PROGRAM - Florida Career College received the OK to offer a two-year nursing program. The 35,000-square-foot facility for the program also houses a cosmetology school with a spa. The first nursing class will be composed of 40 students, which will receive their associate's degrees and be qualified to take a national licensing exam for registered nurses.
Currently, there is a critical need for nurses. There is a shortage of 11,000 registered nurses, and it is expected to increase to 52,000 in the next ten years. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 23, 2010 | NURSES FIRED FOR SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE AT HOSPITAL - Four Filipina employees of Bon Secours Hospital in Baltimore City, MD were fired from their jobs due to speaking Pilipino during their lunch break. Last November, Bon Secours started an English-only language policy in the Emergency Room to make sure everyone can understand each other as they respond to life-and-death situations. In April, 4 employees were terminated supposedly due to violating this cause, and not all were nurses. One was a secretary, who was still surprised that she got the boot. Lawyer Arnedo Valera of the Virginia-based Migrant Heritage Commission has filed a complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), stating that the nurses were “arbitrarily terminated from work without due process.” (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 17, 2010 | FDA FINES AMERICAN RED CROSS $16 MILLION FOR PRIOR FAILURES TO MEET BLOOD SAFETY LAWS - The FDA announced today that the American Red Cross has been fined $16 million for prior failures to comply with Federal laws and regulations related to the collection and manufacture of blood products. Despite the compliance failures, FDA found no evidence that the Red Cross violations endangered any patients and the blood supply is believed to be safe. Multiple layers of safeguards are in place to protect and enhance the safety of blood products. However, these types of violations decrease the assurance that blood products manufactured by American Red Cross will continue to be safe and have the potential to compromise the safety of the blood supply.
The FDA assessed fines totaling $16.18 million – $9.79 million for violations related to mismanagement of certain blood products and $6.39 million for Good Manufacturing Practice violations. Blood products include red cells, plasma and platelets. FDA is encouraged by recent efforts made by the Red Cross leadership and will work closely with them to achieve full compliance. The FDA is hopeful these fines will encourage the Red Cross to act more quickly to take the actions necessary to address and correct the issues that have contributed to these violations.
In October 2009, the agency notified the American Red Cross that FDA inspections conducted during fiscal years 2008 and 2009 revealed violations that included failure to identify problems that occur during manufacturing and failure to adequately investigate identified problems.
The fines announced today were assessed under an amended 2003 consent decree that outlines requirements for the American Red Cross to ensure safety of the nation’s blood supply.
The original 1993 decree was amended in 2003 to allow the FDA to impose significant fines for failure to comply with agency regulations and provisions designed to ensure the safety of the nation’s blood supply.
Since 2003, the American Red Cross has made progress addressing some of its quality issues, including standardizing procedures, upgrading its National Testing Laboratories, and increasing oversight of the organization. However, to fully comply with federal regulations and consent decree provisions, the American Red Cross must make swift, additional progress on all of the issues the FDA has identified.
The agency has previously sent 12 similar letters to the American Red Cross and imposed a total of more than $21 million in fines under terms of the amended 2003 consent decree.
The American Red Cross is one of several organizations that is responsible for the nation’s blood supply. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 17, 2010 | OBAMA THANKS NURSES FOR SUPPORTING HEALTHCARE REFORM - In his meeting with the American Nurses Association, Obama stated that the nurses are the "beating heart" of the health care system. He thanked nurses for supporting the new health care law, stating that their efforts helped him in part to succeed in reforming healthcare. In addition, he announced new funding to help educate and train full-time nurses. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 16, 2010 | AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION VOTES TOWARDS PURGING POLICY - The American Medical Association voted to include in its health care agenda a policy against "purging," or the charging certain subscribers higher premiums without the financial data to support it in order to get them off the subscriber rolls. It is unclear exactly how widespread is purging. However, there is still a need to keep a close eye on practices such as purging. AMA states that its code of conduct is to safeguard the rights of patients and physicians whenever they deal with insurance companies, and this purging policy is just one of around 200 policy proposals under consideration at its annual meeting. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 15, 2010 | GRAND OPENING OF LE BONHEUR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN MEMPHIS - Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, a 255-bed, $340 million hospital, celebrated its grand opening today. The new hospital offers private rooms with sleeping space for two parents and a 32-inch flat screen, high-definition television with a jack to accommodate video game systems and other personal electronic devices. The hospital has a 60-bed neonatal intensive care unit, a 20-bed pediatric intensive care unit, and a 60-bed emergency department that can handle major trauma cases. The computer-based call system offers mobile communication devices, allowing nurses to see which child requires care, and what he or she needs. Wireless technology allows for constant electroencephalogram monitoring of epileptic children, even when they are not in their room. The hospital will provide for over 130,000 sick and injured children who come to the hospital from within a 250-mile radius each year. In September, they will start transferring patients from the existing hospital. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 14, 2010 | POPULAR BLOOD PRESSURE DRUGS INCREASE RISK OF CANCER - A new study finds that some popular blood pressure drugs, such as Diovan, Cozaar, Micardis, and Atacand, may be linked to cancer. These angiotensin-receptor blockers blood pressure drugs were associated with an 8% increase in the risk of a new cancer; however, there was no increase in the risk of dying from cancer. Although many are disturbed by the findings, some experts are finding the results irresponsible and are challenging the results. Also, many patients in the study were being treated with one of the seven available drugs, and if the results are true, there is still a chance that the findings may not apply to all of the medications. In addition, there is concern over whether the results would make patients stop taking these life-saving drugs. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 10, 2010 | LARGEST NURSING STRIKE IN HISTORY OF THE NATION - Thousands of nurses in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota walked off the job today, and over 12,000 nurses staged the strike. According to union organizers, this is the largest nursing strike in the history of the nation. The union members set to strike last month after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract with Twin Cities Hospitals. Union members were opposed to the hospitals' plan to allow more flexibility in switching nurses from one department to another as they felt that the hospital staff is already spread too thin. Instead, they feel that the hospitals should just better plan nurse assignments so switching would not be necessary. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 7, 2010 | US COBRA HEALTH COVERAGE POSSIBLY ENDING - Although the health care overhaul was passed, in the short-term, many will actually be reduced coverage due to U.S. House of Representatives stripping out a recent jobs bill a provision that would have extended the Cobra payment subsidy. This bill is on its way to the Senate, and if an extension is not passed, those who lose their jobs on or after June 1 will no longer be able to receive government financial help to cover 65% of their premium costs for Cobra health coverage. Therefore, the only ones who could claim Cobra would be those who were laid off between September 2008 and May 31, 2010. Families USA reported that those who are newly laid off and don't qualify for the subsidy end up spending around 84% of their monthly unemployment insurance checks on Cobra premiums to keep their families insured. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 7, 2010 | BRISTOL-MYERS MELANOMA DRUG EFFECTIVE IN PROLONGING SURVIVAL - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s drug ipilimumab is the first drug for melanoma that has shown prolonged survival. Melanoma is the deadliest for of skin cancer. In the United States there were around 68,720 new cases of melanoma last year. More than 50,000 people worldwide each year die each year due to melanoma. Ipilimumab helps the immune system fight tumors, and the Food and Drug Administration is set to review the product. Doctors expect that ipilimumab could be available by the end of the year. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 7, 2010 | NY STATE LAWMAKERS APPROVE $775 MILLION HEALTHCARE CUT - On Monday, state lawmakers approved $775 million in cuts and other savings from New York’s health care budget. The Senate vote included all 32 Democrats for it and all Republicans against it. Hospitals, nursing homes, and other health programs will be effected from these reductions. For example, the cuts would cost the Greater New York Hospital Association an additional $250 million or so in federal money, the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center would loose about $8.8 million, and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens would lose $4.5 million. Some major teaching hospitals are even more drastically affected, as they can loose even more money due to cuts in graduate medical education. For example, Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx would lose about $13.9 million.
The cuts ended up being less than the originally expected $1 billion in health care spending. Some cuts ended up being reduced, and others were eliminated entirely. The legislation cuts $72.2 million in health care for the poor and $37.4 million in subsidies for graduate medical education. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 4, 2010 | U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT RELEASES ANNUAL LIST OF BEST CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS - U.S. News & World Report has released its 20th annual list of the nation’s top children’s hospitals. To be considered for the ranking, each pediatric hospital had to submit data about their services and capabilities. 96 of the 170 hospitals submitted data for the 2010 rankings. The total ranking score was composed 35% reputation, 25% outcomes such as surgical survival and avoidance of complications and procedures, 40% care-related indicators such as the ratio of nurses to patients. The U.S. News & World Report list included the top 30 hospitals in 10 pediatric specialties. Below is a list of the top three hospitals per specialty:
Cancer: (1) St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, (2) Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, (3) Children's Hospital Boston
Diabetes & Endocrinology: (1) Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, (2) Children's Hospital Boston, (3) Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Gastroenterology: (1) Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, (2) Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, (3) Children's Hospital Boston
Heart & Heart Surgery: (1) Children's Hospital Boston, (2) Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, (3) Texas Children's Hospital
Kidney: (1) Children's Hospital Boston, (2) Seattle Children's Hospital, (3) Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Neonatology: (1) Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, (2) Children's Hospital Boston, (3) Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Neurology & Neurosurgery: (1) Children's Hospital Boston, (2) Johns Hopkins Children's Center, (3) Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Orthopedics: (1) Children's Hospital Boston, (2) Children's Medical Center - Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, (3) Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Pulmonology: (1) Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, (2) Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, (3) Children's Hospital Boston
Urology: (1) Children's Hospital Boston, (2) Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, (3) Riley Hospital for Children Clarian Health Partners (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 3, 2010 | JOINT COMMISSION ALERT: VIOLENCE RISING AT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES - A new Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert warns that health care facilities today are being confronted with steadily increasing rates of crime, including assault, rape and murder. The Sentinel Event Alert urges greater attention to the issue of violence and to controlling access to facilities to protect patients, staff and visitors, noting that assault, rape and homicide are consistently in the top 10 types of serious events reported to The Joint Commission. The Alert cautions that the actual number of violent incidents is significantly under-reported and advises organizations to mandate the reporting of all real or perceived threats.
To prevent violence in health care facilities, The Joint Commission’s Sentinel Event Alert newsletter suggests that facilities take a series of 13 specific steps, including the following:
Evaluate the facility’s risk for violence examining the campus, reviewing crime rates and surveying employees about their perceptions of risk.
Take extra security precautions in the emergency department, especially if the facility is in an area with a high crime rate or gang activity. Precautions might include uniformed security guards, scanning people entering the building for weapons and inspecting bags.
Conduct thorough background checks of prospective employees and staff.
Report crime to law enforcement.
“Health care facilities should be places of healing, not harm. But, unfortunately, health care settings are not immune from the types of violence that are found in the other areas of our lives,” says Mark R. Chassin, M.D., M.P.P., M.P.H., president, The Joint Commission. “The recommendations in this Alert give health care institutions and caregivers specific strategies to take action that will keep everyone safer.”
In addition to the specific recommendations contained in the Alert, The Joint Commission urges hospitals to comply with the requirements described in its accreditation standards to prevent violence. The standards require accredited health care facilities to have a security plan as well as conduct violence risk assessments, develop strategies to prevent violence and have a response plan when a violent episode occurs. The Joint Commission’s standards also are clear that patients have a right to be free from neglect, exploitation, and verbal, mental, physical and sexual abuse.
The warning about violence in health care facilities is part of a series of Alerts issued by The Joint Commission. Much of the information and guidance provided in these Alerts is drawn from The Joint Commission’s Sentinel Event Database, one of the nation’s most comprehensive voluntary reporting systems for serious adverse events in health care. The database includes detailed information about both adverse events and their underlying causes. Previous Alerts have addressed maternal deaths, health care technology, anticoagulants, wrong-site surgery, medication mix-ups, health care-associated infections, and patient suicides, among others. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| June 1, 2010 | WARNING: ARROW BRAND MEDICATED OIL & - EMBROCATION, ACEITE MEDICINAL LA FLECHA, POTENTIALLY TOXIC
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned consumers not to purchase or use a product called “Arrow Brand Medicated Oil & Embrocation,” also labeled as “Aceite Medicinal La Flecha (Spanish) or “箭嘜驅風油 (Chinese).” The product is potentially toxic and contains two substances, methyl salicylate and camphor, which are poisonous when ingested.
Methyl salicylate and camphor also may be poisonous when applied to a large area of the skin, or when combined with heat to increase absorption of the active ingredients. Children are particularly susceptible to poisoning from these ingredients.
Symptoms of poisoning from these ingredients could include: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, visual changes, dizziness and mental confusion. Some cases of accidental overdose of methyl salicylate and camphor have been fatal.
FDA preliminary testing on product samples also revealed a compound that appears to be diethylene glycol (DEG), an ingredient used in antifreeze, which may be toxic if ingested. Further testing is needed to confirm the presence of DEG.
The product is sold primarily on the Internet and in specialty stores that serve Asian and Latino communities. The FDA is asking retailers to remove the product from store shelves.
(article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| May 31, 2010 | BREAST CANCER VACCINE PREVENTS CANCER IN MICE, SAME RESULT HOPED FOR HUMANS - American scientists have developed a vaccine which has prevented breast cancer from developing in mice and are now planning to conduct trials of the drug in humans. It is expected to be several years until the vaccine would be widely available. The vaccine targets a protein found in most breast tumors and is hoped to be used to prevent breast cancer in adult women the same way that vaccines have prevented many childhood diseases. In the study, half of the mice were vaccinated with and half without a vaccine containing á-lactalbumin. None of the mice vaccinated with á-lactalbumin developed breast cancer. Therefore, if it works in humans as it did with the mice, breast cancer could be eliminated. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| May 26, 2010 | RARE CASES OF LIVER INJURY REPORTED WITH USE OF XENICAL, ALLI - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today advised consumers and health care professionals about potential rare occurrences of severe liver injury in patients taking the weight-loss medication orlistat, marketed as Xenical and Alli. The FDA has approved a revised label for the prescription drug Xenical. The agency is working with the manufacturer of Alli on label revisions to reflect this rare occurrence.
Both Xenical and Alli are medications contain the same active ingredient, orlistat. Xenical, available only by prescription, contains 120 milligrams of orlistat. Alli, sold over-the-counter without a prescription, contains 60 mg of orlistat. An estimated 40 million people worldwide have taken either Xenical or Alli.
The FDA’s safety information and labeling changes are based on a review of cases of severe liver injury reported in individuals taking orlistat. The agency has identified 13 cases of severe liver injury, 12 of which were reports from outside of the United States. The only U.S. report of severe liver injury involved Alli. At this time, a cause-and-effect relationship of severe liver injury with orlistat use has not been established.
People who take Xenical or Alli should be aware that liver injury with orlistat – while rare – has been reported. Those taking the drug also should be aware of the signs and symptoms of liver injury, which include itching, yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, loss of appetite, or light-colored stools. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| May 25, 2010 | HEALTHCARE OVERHAUL EXPECTED TO HELP YOUNG ADULTS - The new healthcare overhaul is expected to help young adults, such as allowing them to stay on their parents' health insurance until age 26. However, some students are over 26 and are unable to take advantage of this law if their parents do not have coverage and student health plans may be their only option. Luckily, the new law may help strengthen student plans. For example, by October, all health plans must eliminate lifetime limits on coverage as well as most annual limits. In addition, health plans will be required to spend 80 to 85 percent of the premiums they collect on clinical services and quality measures starting next year, or give consumers a rebate.
Additional changes will be based on how the plans are defined by federal regulators. Starting in 2014, individual plans will have to offer a comprehensive package of "essential health benefits." Large-group plans, however, won't have to meet that requirement. Regardless, they will still have the option to buy health insurance on the new state-based exchanges starting in 2014. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |
| May 24, 2010 | SWIMMING POOL SANITATION - A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that one in eight public swimming pools were closed in 2008 due to serious health code violations. C.D.C. researchers analyzed data from more than 110,000 routine pool inspections drawn from a sample of 15 counties and states. Of 111,487 inspections, 13,532, or 12.1 percent, identified serious violations that led to immediate shutdowns. It is recommended that you take your own test strips to swimming pools to check the quality of water. In addition, be sure to not go swimming if you have diarrhea, take frequent bathroom breaks and never swallow pool water. (article courtesy of the #1 source for travel nursing jobs in New York City) |