March 4, 2021 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration alerted consumers, health care providers, and other users of thermal imaging systems intended to measure human body temperature—also known as telethermographic systems, infrared thermographs, thermal cameras, and “fever cameras”—that improper use of the systems may provide inaccurate temperature readings due to a variety of factors. Additionally, the FDA issued several Warning …
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of HHS, is partnering with the University of New Mexico’s ECHO Institute in Albuquerque and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Boston to establish the network, which will provide free training and mentorship to nursing homes across the U.S. The project ECHO, or Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes, includes more …
New data from Omnicare, a CVS Health company, regarding nursing home vaccination status: Of the nearly 7,822 skilled nursing facilities that have partnered with CVS Pharmacy, all have received their first round of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 81% of second doses already completed. In addition, of the 37,58 assisted living and other long-term care facilities partnered with CVS Pharmacy, 77% …
Strengthening the supply chain and letting companies communicate more freely are two of the ideas in a report from the HealthCare Leadership Council and other organizations about how to respond to future pandemics and other public health disasters. The reports’ recommendations include: Launching a standing disaster preparedness group, appointed by and working with the White House, which includes private sector …
The CDC has updated the Guidance on Testing Healthcare Personnel for SARS CoV-2: Criteria for Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 (Interim Guidance) – February 14, 2021 CDC Science Agenda for COVID-19 – February 15, 2021 Interim Guidance on Testing Healthcare Personnel for SARS-CoV-2 – February 14, 2021 U.S. COVID-19 Cases Caused by Variants – …
The Department of Health and Human Services issued a long-awaited proposed rule that would modify the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Among the changes proposed are: Dropping the requirement for healthcare entities to obtain and retain for six years patients’ signed acknowledgements of notices of privacy practices Reducing the time from 30 days to 15 days for covered entities to fulfill patient …
ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) has been responding to an ongoing pandemic and accelerated vaccine development through evidence-based recommendations for the use of COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. civilian population. The COVID-19 Work Group meets weekly and the topics covered include: Safety updates COVID-19 in children Plans for clinical studies of COVID vaccine in children Plans for vaccine effectiveness …
Electronic Case Reporting (eCR) is the automated generation and transmission of case reports from the electronic health record (EHR) to public health agencies for review and action. eCR makes disease reporting from healthcare to public health faster and easier. It moves data securely and seamlessly from the HER at the point of care, to data systems at state, territorial, and …
Over a million Americans reside in Congregate Care Facilities (CCFs), which provide housing and some services for individuals who do not need skilled nursing care. CCFs include assisted living facilities, independent living facilities, and memory care units. While healthier than nursing home residents, CCF residents face substantial risk of excess death and morbidity from COVID-19. Many residents and staff in …
SARS-CoV-2 variants from the UK., South Africa, Brazil, and even the U.S. will require researchers to be “nimble” to keep up with them, and make vaccination against the virus even more essential, Anthony Fauci, MD, said at a White House COVID-19 press briefing. With variants estimated to become the dominant cause of infections in the U.S. by the end of …
