COVID-19 vaccine saved millions of lives, study calculates

The vaccines also reduced infections and hospitalizations, which freed up hospital resources, researchers at the Commonwealth Fund and Yale School of Public Health concluded.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 13, 2022

OSHA moves ahead with permanent COVID-19 standards for health workers

The submission for permanent COVID-19 safety standards comes after temporary pandemic requirements for medical facilities were withdrawn last December.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 9, 2022

COVID-19 fell from top telehealth diagnoses in September

Telehealth use has remained steady this year and did not change nationally from August to September, accounting for 5.4% of all medical claims, according to Fair Health.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 8, 2022

Healthcare executives also experiencing burnout: survey

Seventy-four percent of healthcare executives surveyed by a consulting firm said they felt burned out in the past six months, compared to 60% in 2018. 

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 7, 2022

18M projected to lose Medicaid coverage at end of COVID-19 emergency

Many people who are currently enrolled in Medicaid will transition to other coverage, but 3.8 million people will completely lose insurance, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 6, 2022

For most of COVID-19 pandemic, major for-profit hospitals’ operating margins exceeded years prior

HCA and Tenet had operating margins of at least 10% and at least 5%, respectively, in nine out of 11 quarters, according to a report out Monday from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 5, 2022

Healthcare sector added 45K jobs in November as pandemic recovery continues

Ambulatory healthcare services and hospitals have gained jobs consistently, adding about 300,000 and 130,000 jobs, respectively, since last November. 

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 2, 2022

How to address healthcare’s unique cybersecurity challenges

Although the U.S. is entering a post-COVID era, many factors straining the healthcare industry will continue and more risk factors will kick in, argues Syed Kaptan of cybersecurity intelligence company ThreatQuotient.

By Syed Kaptan • Nov. 28, 2022

22 states petition CMS to repeal health worker vaccine mandate

The states argued in the petition, led by Montana’s attorney general, that the requirement has led to worsening staffing shortages in the sector, particularly in rural states.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 18, 2022

Primary care physicians are burned out, though faring better in US than other countries

Physicians under the age of 55 were more likely to feel stress, emotional distress or burnout compared to older physicians in all countries, according to a report from the Commonwealth Fund.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 17, 2022

Emergency rooms are at ‘breaking point,’ physicians say

Medical groups are urging the Biden administration to prioritize finding solutions to patient overcrowding.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 9, 2022

Half of nurses consider leaving the profession, survey finds

Staffing shortages were the top reason nurses cited for planning to leave their jobs, followed by the need for better work-life balance, according to staffing agency ConnectRN.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 8, 2022

Mass General Brigham adopts patient code of conduct

The new policy comes as nurses and physicians across the country report an escalation in aggression against healthcare providers.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 7, 2022

COVID-19 telehealth diagnoses fell in August

There was no change in telehealth use in the Midwest and Northeast in August, but utilization rose 4.7% in the South and fell 1.4% in the West.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 3, 2022

Hospitals face lowest readmission fines since 2014, analysis finds

More than 2,200 hospitals will incur penalties, the lowest number in nearly a decade, as the CMS adjusted its calculations for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 2, 2022

Over 200,000 healthcare workers quit jobs last year

Internal medicine, family practice, clinical psychology, chiropractic and psychology were among the specialties facing the highest turnover in 2021, according to a report from Definitive Healthcare.

By Hailey Mensik • Oct. 26, 2022

Hospitals pivot to new tactics as they try to recruit, retain staff

“We’re not just competing among healthcare organizations anymore,” Geisinger Chief Nursing Officer Janet Tomcavage said. “Now we’re really competing with the broader labor market.” 

By Hailey Mensik • Oct. 26, 2022

HCA shares fall after COVID-19 admissions decline in Q3

A spike in COVID-19 cases due to the delta variant in 2021 contributed to the operator’s decline in Q3 admissions.

By Sydney Halleman • Oct. 21, 2022

HHS needs to update strategic national stockpile procedures, GAO report says

Current procedures the HHS uses to make inventory decisions are hampering its ability to ensure the stockpile has the right resources in the right quantities to combat future crises, a GAO report found.

By Hailey Mensik • Oct. 18, 2022

Omicron boosters from Pfizer, Moderna cleared by FDA for younger children

Pfizer's reformulated vaccine is now authorized for use in children at least 5 years of age, while Moderna's will be available for kids as young as 6.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Oct. 13, 2022

Physicians are experiencing delayed COVID-19 burnout

Physician burnout has risen during the most recent phase of the pandemic, resulting in exacerbated retention challenges among healthcare workers, an MGMA survey and other recent reports have found.

By Hailey Mensik • Oct. 11, 2022

Healthcare jobs recovered from early pandemic losses

Ambulatory healthcare services and hospitals each added 28,000 jobs in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

By Hailey Mensik • Oct. 7, 2022

SCOTUS won’t hear challenge to health worker vaccine mandate

In January, the high court upheld the CMS rule mandating that healthcare workers be vaccinated against COVID-19 at medical facilities that receive federal funding.

By Hailey Mensik • Oct. 4, 2022

Telehealth use rose overall in July, report finds

Telehealth use increased in the West, Midwest and South in July while it fell in the Northeast, according to Fair Health’s monthly telehealth data out Monday.

By Hailey Mensik • Oct. 3, 2022

Stopgap Senate bill advances, but leaves COVID-19 funding behind

The bill cuts funding for COVID-19 and monkeypox aid but extends two rural hospital programs.

By Sydney Halleman • Sept. 28, 2022