Employee Management
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Will COVID-19 Establish an Animal Reservoir?
Minks farmed for their fur are acquiring SARS-CoV-2 from humans and transmitting it back, a classic scenario for a possible genetic mutation that could create a mismatch with some vaccines under development, the World Health Organization reported.
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COVID-19 Inflammatory Syndrome Emerging in Adults
Healthcare workers could be at risk of multisystem inflammatory syndrome linked to COVID-19, as the poorly understood condition first seen in children now is emerging in adults.
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15 Minutes of Infamy? CDC Warns of Cumulative Exposures
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised questions after the agency said clinically significant COVID-19 close-contact exposures could occur in intervals over time.
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With Political Change, OSHA Infectious Disease Standard Appears Back in Play
In acknowledged underestimates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports tens of thousands of healthcare workers have acquired COVID-19 and hundreds have died. With CDC guidelines nonregulatory, politicized, and too often ignored during the pandemic, the question arises: Could an enforceable infectious disease standard by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have saved lives during the pandemic?
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Occupational COVID-19 Exposures to Colleagues
Healthcare workers may be vigilant with personal protective equipment around COVID-19 patients, but inadvertently expose themselves to colleagues when they take breaks, socialize, and eat. Part of the problem is healthcare workers are experiencing PPE fatigue and may be tempted to removed gear for brief respites when possible.
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High Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccines Buoys Hopes
Although questions and caveats remain, preliminary reports of two new COVID-19 vaccines in the 90% to 95% effectiveness range have bolstered hopes that healthcare workers may soon be protected and potentially large portions of the public immunized in 2021.
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The Basic Elements of Healthcare Reimbursement, Part 2
This month will continue the discussion of healthcare reimbursement by third-party payers. We began last month with a review of the diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) and associated terminology. We will continue by reviewing how medical records are coded followed by the new MS-DRGs implemented in 2007.
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The Four C’s of Patient Care
Every day, case managers face pressure to achieve optimal outcomes in a multitude of scenarios. At the core of each case is the patient’s understanding of medical care, their ability to think critically, make decisions about their care, and use good judgment. Capacity, competency, coping, and choice are the core considerations every case manager should examine with each patient.
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New Research Suggests More Data on Readmissions Can Help
A recent study of Medicare data revealed facilities have many opportunities to improve readmissions — to either a medical or psychiatric hospital — after psychiatric hospitalization.
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Methods for Case Managers to Build and Enhance Resilience
Hospital case management departments can anticipate increased levels of stress among their staff as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. This could cause employees to burn out and leave their jobs. But before things reach a crisis point, there are practical and evidence-based steps leaders can take to help their employees shore up their resiliency to deal with pandemic-related stressors.