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  • 'Anything on a needle' is a bloodborne risk

    No new confirmed cases of occupationally acquired HIV have been reported since 2000. The hepatitis B vaccine has led to a dramatic reduction in new occupationally related cases. But the risk of transmission of disease from bloodborne pathogens to health care workers remains very real — a risk that isn't limited to hepatitis and HIV.
  • Q & A on largest patient look-back effort in history

    The Southern Nevada Health District issued the following questions and answers after launching the largest patient look-back effort in history by contacting 40,000 patients potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens in a Las Vegas endoscopy clinic:
  • Call for national action after Vegas look-back

    An outbreak of hepatitis C virus (HCV) that recently sparked a massive testing effort affecting 40,000 patients in Las Vegas comes as the largest, latest "look-back" in a series of ambulatory care exposures that shows no signs of stopping.
  • Outbreak investigation hinges on DNA matches

    Appropriately enough in Las Vegas, the largest patient look-back investigation in history will come down to something akin to a high-stakes bingo game.
  • Nurse anesthetists group stresses safe practices

    In response to a hepatitis C virus outbreak in an endoscopy center in Las Vegas, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) in Park Ridge, IL, is reiterating safe needle practices to all of its members.
  • Owner issues statement on 'unfounded allegations'

    In light of an outbreak of hepatitis C virus that resulted in public health officials advising 40,000 patients to be tested, Dipak Desai, MD, majority owner of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada at 700 Shadow Lane, issued the following statement on March 10, 2008:
  • 24/7 'lockdown' helps ease staff's concerns

    In response to concerns voiced by staff members about their own safety and that of their patients, and a desire for greater patient privacy, the treatment area of the ED at Central Vermont Medical Center (CVH) in Berlin has, in essence, been put on a full-time modified "lockdown."
  • ED becomes 'lean' and cuts LBTC, LOS times

    The leadership at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston has used "Lean" methodology to significantly improve performance in the ED, reducing median length of stay, frequency of diversions, and the percentage of patient who left before treatment was complete (LBTC).
  • Study: Level I designation makes a big difference

    When it comes to transferring seriously injured patients, there has not been a significant difference in how Level I and Level II trauma centers have traditionally been viewed, according to Sue Slone, MD, FACS, director of trauma surgery at Swedish Medical Center in Denver.
  • Should ED managers advocate for upgrade?

    In the face of findings at Swedish Medical Center in Denver, that upgrading from a Level II trauma designation to a Level I significantly improves mortality rates, should an ED manager at a Level II facility advocate such an upgrade?