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The new COVID-19 requirements from OSHA for healthcare employers create substantial obligations, but many hospitals already are carrying out much of what is required. The challenge may come in formalizing a written plan and ensuring it addresses all of OSHA’s expectations.
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A new study revealed opportunities for improvement in OB/GYN knowledge of sexual health education. OB/GYN residents, while knowledgeable on subjects like decreased sexual desire, sexual pain, contraception, and more, could benefit from learning more about transgender care, caring for sex trafficking survivors, and cultural competency in care.
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The easing of the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy restriction on mifepristone will make it easier for women to obtain the drug and could allow for pharmacy dispensing of the drug. Pharmacists should have a seat at the table in the conversation on dispensing prescription medication.
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The risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) restriction on mifepristone has been burdensome for providers and patients, researchers noted. The REMS restriction exacerbates the stigma around abortion care, which already disproportionately affects communities of color and young people.
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Healthcare providers need to focus on educating women with sickle cell disease about different types of contraception, efficacy, and risks while addressing disease-specific concerns. Women with sickle cell disease
are at risk for pregnancy complications, such as higher risks for maternal and fetal mortality, pre-eclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction.
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The results of a recent study highlight the gaps in COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women in the United States. Although pregnant women are at increased risk for severe illness and death from the disease, many remain unvaccinated.
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Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health organizations have initiated COVID-19 vaccine outreach for their patients and communities. In addition to encouraging staff and patients to take the vaccine, the organizations have taken a positive COVID-19 vaccine message to minority communities and others hit hard by the pandemic.
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A common misperception that has led to vaccine hesitancy in healthcare workers and the public is the COVID-19 vaccines were produced with undue haste, seemingly coming out of nowhere to respond to the pandemic. The extensive scientific work with many other viruses that enabled the rapid development of the pandemic vaccines often is left out of the equation.
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It began with the first five cases reported by the CDC on June 5, 1981. What would become known as HIV/AIDS struck fear in HCWs possibly only rivaled by Ebola virus. HCWs worked at mortal risk, with some dying after needlesticks or other sharps injuries that exposed them to patient blood. What was essentially a terminal diagnosis became treatable when the first antiretrovirals were developed in 1995-1996.
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Effective Jan. 1, 2022, new and revised workplace violence prevention standards will apply to all accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals, The Joint Commission recently announced.
