May 29, 2023
Credit: Facebook
1. Monthly RHCC On-Call
Each month, the NWRHCC has a different person on call to handle after hours emergency needs. Jordan Rennie is the duty officer for May. Should you need assistance from the RHCC, please call 1-855-469-7422. To request Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), mobile medical assets, or other equipment from the RHCC, please complete the PPE and Mobile Asset Request form located here.
2. Regional Coalition Meeting
The Northwest Region Healthcare Coalition monthly meeting is June 8. We are using the WebEx conferencing system. If you are a routine attendee for this meeting and you do not have the WebEx calendar invite, please contact us before the meeting. The meeting agenda and previous meeting minutes will be sent on the Tuesday prior to the meeting.
Credit: Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association
Credit: Virginia Department of Health
1. Virginia Department of Health Weekly Situation Report
The Virginia Department of Health Office of Emergency Preparedness offers a weekly report with key takeaways, key figures, and other information affecting public health and healthcare.
Want to know more, read here »
2. Virginia Long-Term Care Clinician Network Monthly Update
About the Network: The Virginia Long-Term Care Clinician Network (LTC-CN) brings together medical directors and clinicians practicing in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other congregate care settings, such as Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
Want to know more, read here »
Join the Network
3. Virginia Department of Health Weekly Influenza Activity Report
The Virginia Department of Health offers a weekly report that tracks visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for influenza-like illness.
Want to know more, read here »
4. Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program (HAI High Sign Newsletter)
Our HAI/AR Program newsletter, the HAI High Sign is published on a regular basis and distributed electronically to hospital infection preventionists, key stakeholders from other healthcare facilities and membership organizations, as well as health department staff.
Want to know more, read here »
Credit: Health & Human Services
Credit: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
Credit: Hospital Preparedness Program
Nothing
Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)
Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) provides timely, accurate, and credible information to clinicians related to emergency preparedness and response and emerging public health threats. COCA fosters partnerships with national clinician organizations to strengthen information-sharing networks before, during, and after a public health emergency.
Want to know more, read here »
Credit: U.S. Food & Drug Administration
1. FDA Drug Shortages
Current and Resolved Drug Shortages and Discontinuations Reported to FDA
2. Medical Device Shortage Update
Medical Device Shortages During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Credit: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Nothing
Credit: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Credit: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Credit: U.S. Fire Administration
Credit: U.S. Fire Administration
The InfoGram
- National Emergency Medical Services Week is May 21-27
- Toxidrome Recognition and Response in Chemical-Weapon Attacks
- More
Credit: Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Credit: Virginia Fusion Center
Region 3 National Emergency Management Basic Academy
The National Emergency Management Basic Academy is the essential program for individuals committed to emergency management as a professional goal. Similar to basic academies operated by the fire service and law enforcement communities, the National Emergency Management Basic Academy provides learners with a broad foundation in emergency management policy and practice.
Where: *Central Virginia Community College
Where: **Liberty University in Lynchburg
* (L0101) Foundations of Emergency Management – August 14-18, 2023
** (L0102) Science of Disaster – September 19-21, 2023
** (L0103) Planning: Emergency Operations – October 17-18, 2023
** (L0146) Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) – November 15-16, 2023
** (L0105) Public Information and Warning – December 12-14, 2023
To view current offerings and register for these courses, please log in to the Commonwealth of Virginia Learning Center: https://covlc.virginia.gov/
Credit: 123RF
1. Making Mitigation Work (Webinar Series)
The Natural Hazards Center, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is pleased to present the Making Mitigation Work Webinar Series. These free one-hour webinars feature innovative speakers and highlight progress in mitigation policy, practice, and research.
Save the dates for future Making Mitigation Work webinars:
June 13, 2023, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST
Click here to register for free
2. Infection Prevention Education Series
NETEC has released a new education series on infection prevention and control for special pathogens. The courses in this program are designed for nurses, physicians, emergency responders, and other health care professionals—bringing you back to the basics of infection prevention and control. Earn up to 1.5 continuing education credits and complete the program in as little as 1.5 hours.
Learn More
3. CBERS 2023 – Exercise Design for Community Partners
Participants will learn the fundamental steps of how to design a training exercise and participate with other community partners in a tabletop exercise. This is a free offering by the Virginia Department of Health. The bold location and date is the closest to the different parts of our region (East, West, North, and South).
The dates are locations are:
Fairfax – June 6, 2023
Stafford – June 7, 2023
To register, click here.
1. Nurse Kidnapped Outside of Detroit Hospital Found Dead
Patrice Wilson, a Detroit Medical Center nurse, was kidnapped while leaving work May 13, Detroit Free Press reported May 14.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Mariah Taylor of BECKER’S Clinical Leadership & Infection Control
2. Debate Over Masking in Healthcare Settings Persists Post-PHE
Now is not the time to do away with masks in healthcare settings, two infectious disease physicians wrote in a commentary published May 16 in Annals of Internal Medicine, an indication that the debate over whether hospitals should continue to mandate masking is not wavering any time soon.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Erica Carbajal of BECKER’S Clinical Leadership & Infection Control
3. Mass Gen Opens ‘discharge lounge’ to Address Capacity Challenges
Massachusetts General Hospital has opened a “discharge lounge” — a new way the Boston-based hospital is alleviating capacity challenges.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Erica Carbajal of BECKER’S HOSPITAL REVIEW
4. Critics Weigh in on Legislation to Establish Hospital Police Forces
Amid rising violence against healthcare workers, states are considering or approving laws that address penalties for assaults on healthcare workers, as well as allow the creation of hospital police forces, KFF Health News reported May 15. Groups representing nurses and hospitals point to benefits of such laws, while critics warn against pitfalls of establishing hopital police forces.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Kelly Gooch of BECKER’S HOSPITAL REVIEW
5. Data Breach at Credit Agency may Impact Several Virginia Hospitals
A breach at Credit Control Corp., a Virginia-based credit reporting agency, may affect several hospitals, health systems and healthcare practices in the state.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Naomi Diaz of BECKER’S HEALTH IT
6. Hurry up and Wait: How Green Card Freeze Could Impact US Hospitals
An administrative backlog prompted the State Department to announce in its May 2023 Bulletin that this year’s allotment of EB-3 visas has been exhausted and no applications submitted after June 1, 2022, will be considered until further notice. An EB-3 visa is required for an overseas nurse to work in the United States.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Bari Faye Dean of BECKER’S Clinical Leadership & Infection Control
7. Texas Health System PHI Compromised Following Phishing Attack
Edinburg-based South Texas Health System is notifying patients that some of their protected health information may have been compromised when an unauthorized party accessed a business associate’s email account using a phishing tactic.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Naomi Diaz of BECKER’S HEALTH IT
8. North Healthcare hit with Demands From Hackers After Cyber Event
The FBI has stepped in to help investigate a cybersecurity event at Louisville, Ky.-based Norton Healthcare, CBS affiliate WLKY reported May 17.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Naomi Diaz of BECKER’S HEALTH IT
9. New Report Warns: Russian, North Korean Hackers Take aim at Healthcare Industry
Healthcare organizations, including senior living communities, must remain vigilant against cyber attacks by Russian and North Korean-backed hacker groups, a global advisory firm said Tuesday. Senior living communities and nursing homes are often at high risk for cyber attacks — and often are considered one of the most-attacked industries, research shows.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Christine Birkner of McKnights Senior Living
10. Mpox may Rebound This Summer: CDC
The CDC is warning clinicians and health officials of a potential mpox resurgence this spring and summer.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Mackenszie Bean of BECKER’S Clinical Leadership & Infection Control
