Health Care


CDC: U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths Continue to Rise

The report confirms that recent increases in drug overdose deaths are fueled by continued, sharp increases in deaths that involve synthetic opioids other than methadone, such as illicitly manufactured fentanyl.

Using Software to Unlock Your Health & Safety Potential

Looking at most "world class" health and safety organizations, technology plays a vital role in their success. They view software as one of many tools, not the sole solution.

OSHA recommends as a best practice that employers designate one person the responsibility of choosing the types and amounts of first aid supplies, as well as maintaining them and the kit.

Meeting OSHA's First Aid Requirements

Employers must evaluate their first aid response and preparedness programs based not only on OSHA compliance, but the needs of their workplace and employees.

Maryland’s First Stabilization Center to Open in Baltimore

Maryland’s First Stabilization Center to Open in Baltimore

According to city officials, the center will be a safe place for people under the influence of drugs and alcohol to sober up and receive short-term medical and social interventions, medical screening and monitoring, and referrals to behavioral health and social services.

Oregon, Canada, DEA Announce New Steps in Opioids Crisis

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is issuing an executive order declaring addiction and substance abuse to be a public health crisis in Oregon, and Canada’s minister of health announced new research projects and amendments to expand access to treatment options.

Alere Settles Case About Point-of-Care Diagnostic Devices

According to the government's allegations, Alere received customer complaints that put it on notice that certain devices it sold produced erroneous results that had the potential to create false positives and false negatives that adversely affected clinical decision-making, but the company failed to take appropriate corrective actions until FDA inspections prompted a nationwide product recall in 2012.

Next Rx Take Back Day Set for April 28

According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs, and a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

Editorial Cites 'Growing Fatigue' Around Sepsis Reports

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine's editorial notes that early detection of sepsis is vital but is hampered by signs and symptoms of the condition being similar to other disorders.



WHO, Partners Working Together on Opioids Problem

During the 61st session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria, three organizations have committed to improving equitable access to controlled medicines for pain management and palliative care and to scale up efforts to prevent non-medical drug use and to provide treatment services drug use disorders.

FDA Proposes Cutting Nicotine Level in CIgarettes

The advance notice of proposed rulemaking published March 16 is a step toward cutting the level of nicotine in cigarettes to "minimally or non-addictive levels," with FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb calling it "a pivotal step ... that could ultimately bring us closer to our vision of a world where combustible cigarettes would no longer create or sustain addiction."

Ohio Boosts Grants for Firefighters' Health Protection

"When we call firefighters for help, they're at our door as fast as humanly possible," said Ohio BWC Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison. "It's only right that we do the same when they need equipment critical to their health and safety. We want every qualifying fire department that applies for these grants to get their funds as soon as possible."

WHO Issues New Guidance on Tobacco Regulation

Dr. Vinayak Prasad, who leads WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative, said the failure to regulate "represents a missed opportunity as tobacco product regulation, in the context of comprehensive control, is a valuable tool that complements other tried and tested tobacco control interventions, such as raising taxes and ensuring smoke-free environments."

Opioid Overdoses Up 30 Percent Last Year: CDC

A new Vital Signs report from the agency, based on emergency department data, shows in the nine months through September 2017, overdoses increased across all regions, in most states, for both men and women, and for most age groups. They were up about 30 percent overall, with the largest increases mainly in western states.

Six FDNY EMS Veterans Promoted

The six have prepared the bureau's emergency response to major events and have managed mass casualty incidents across the five boroughs, ensuring the safety of millions of New Yorkers and tourists.

Nursing Now Launches Worldwide

Nursing Now is a three-year campaign run in collaboration with the International Council of Nurses and the World Health Organization; it is a program of the Burdett Trust for Nursing.

Alaska Public Health Updates Vaccination Advisory

With 214 confirmed and 33 probable cases having been reported to the Alaska Section of Epidemiology since the mumps outbreak started in Anchorage last summer, the state says any Alaska resident who would like additional protection against mumps is eligible to receive a third dose of the MMR vaccine.

Canadian Grant to Aid Sharing of Brain Research Data

The $10.17 million grant will create the Canadian Open Neuroscience Platform, a partnership of 15 universities that will facilitate sharing of data that supports research to advance treatments for Canadians suffering from neurological diseases.

SAMHSA Publishes Best Practices on Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Treatment Improvement Protocol 63, "Medications for Opioid Use Disorder," reviews the use of methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine, the three FDA-approved medications to treat opioid use disorders.

IAEA Chief Highlights Sterile Mosquito Program

While visiting Thailand, Director General Yukiya Amano said important progress has been made in its use against mosquitoes. Vector-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika viral disease, and yellow fever are becoming important public health problems in many countries in Southeast Asia, he said.

HIPAA Penalty Follows Company Into Receivership

"The careless handling of [protected health information] is never acceptable," said OCR Director Roger Severino. "Covered entities and business associates need to be aware that OCR is committed to enforcing HIPAA regardless of whether a covered entity is opening its doors or closing them. HIPAA still applies."

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