The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added new vaccine information to its COVID-19 webpage on Wednesday. The new content includes information on what healthcare providers should know about U.S. vaccination plans, how the CDC makes vaccination recommendations and answers to frequently asked questions.
CDC adds vaccine-specific content to its website
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added new vaccine information to its COVID-19 webpage on Wednesday. The new content includes information on what healthcare providers should know about U.S. vaccination plans, how the CDC makes vaccination recommendations and answers to frequently asked questions. According to the CDC, these resources are intended to explain how future vaccines will be monitored for safety. The agency plans to frequently update the page as new information becomes available.
Guidance on Hospital COVID-19 Data Reporting and Enforcement
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week released the requirements and enforcement process for all Medicare and Medicaid hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to report COVID-19 data. Hospitals and CAHs, excluding Psychiatric and Rehabilitation, must report daily to the federal government or to their state if they receive a written release from the state. Failure to do so will result in a series of enforcement actions over several weeks which could result in termination of the Medicare provider agreement. Separate guidance provides the definitions of the data elements for hospitals and in-hospital labs.
ArMA’s new peer support program for Arizona physicians
The Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) in partnership with Corporate Counseling Associates Inc. has launched its new program Virtual Doctors’ Lounge providing physicians the chance to talk with their peers about stressors they are encountering. The Virtual Doctors’ Lounge will allow physicians to share concerns with someone who understands the daily strain of being a physician. This new program is free, confidential, and available to any physician in Arizona.
FDA authorizes COVID-19 antibody test’s emergency use
The Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization last week for Abbott Laboratories’ AdviseDx SARS-CoV-2 IgM (Immunoglobulin M) lab-based serology test. Abbott said the test, which is used on its ARCHITECT and Alinity platforms, has demonstrated high reliability in its research and external virology laboratory studies, with 99.56% specificity and 95% sensitivity for patients tested 15 days after symptom onset.
Johnson & Johnson Eli Lilly & Co. pause COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials
Two large scale drug makers — Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly and Company — have paused vaccine trials due to safety concerns. Johnson & Johnson explained the pause was due to an unexplained illness in a study volunteer participant. On the other hand, Eli Lilly and Company was urged to pause by an independent data safety monitoring board for the trial. Just last month, British regulators put a hold on a trial of a candidate vaccine by AstraZeneca which was lifted a week later.
Valleywise Health welcomes new CAO Douglas Stewart, PsyD
Douglas Stewart, PsyD will be joining the Valleywise Health’s leadership team beginning December 14 as the new Chief Administrative Officer. Stewart joins Valleywise Health after a 16-year tenure at Rochester Regional Health (RRH) in Rochester, New York. He served in numerous leadership positions at RRH including his most recent role as Western Region Leader. As part of his role as RRH Western Region Leader, Stewart served as President of the 351-bed Unity Hospital just outside of Rochester.
As the Chief Administrative Officer, Stewart will oversee support services operations and strategy development at Valleywise Health and will be a key partner with leadership and medical staff to help drive consistent and exceptional care for patients.
Upcoming Events
October 22, 1 p.m. – Introduction to POLST webinar
The one-hour introduction to POLST workshop equips healthcare professionals with knowledge and resources to begin using POLST, a “portable medical order,” in Arizona. The objectives are to describe what POLST is at the state and national level, explain why POLST is important, define the population for POLST, when to begin the conversation and who completes POLST, describe the process for completing, reviewing and updating POLST and learn the process of submitting healthcare planning documents to the Arizona Healthcare Directive Registry.
October 30 – Arizona Public Health Association’s Fall Conference: 6th Annual Adolescent Health and Wellness Summit
The Arizona Public Health Association will be hosting its 6th Annual Adolescent Health and Wellness Summit virtually on October 30 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This year’s guest speaker is Superintendent Kathy Hoffman. To learn more or register, click here.
November 13 – Women Lead HERe Conference
Join the Arizona Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association in its 8th Annual Women Lead HERe Conference. This year’s event will focus on empowHERment, inspiration and connection. Learn more and register for the conference here.
In Other News
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HHS invests $480 million in Cue Health to boost manufacturing of rapid coronavirus test
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Need a flu shot? You’ve got options
Daily Independent
University of Arizona research shows COVID-19 antibodies last at least 5-7 months
Arizona Family