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February 4, 2013

Top Story

Safety program curbs infection rates in NICUs
The rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection in neonatal intensive care units dropped by 58% in 11 months following participation in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's safety program. The report said the program helped prevent an estimated 131 infections, up to 41 deaths and saved more than $2 million in medical costs. BeckersASC.com (1/25)

Patient Safety & Clinical Update

Postpartum hemorrhage doesn't pose greater pregnancy risks
Women who experienced heavy bleeding during their first childbirth were no more likely to suffer from a miscarriage and other pregnancy complications in the future, a study in the journal BJOG found. About 18% of those who had a history of postpartum hemorrhage bled heavily during their second childbirth, compared with 7% of women who didn't have heavy bleeding during their first childbirth. Reuters (1/29)

Higher pregnancy risk seen with morning sickness in 2nd trimester
Pregnant women who were admitted for severe morning sickness during the second trimester had a twofold increased risk of developing preeclampsia and were 1.4 times as likely to deliver a baby that was small for gestational age compared with those who did not suffer from the condition, a Swedish study found. The results appear in the journal BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. MyHealthNewsDaily.com (1/29)

New algorithm helps evaluate infants for herpes virus
A new algorithm to help clinicians evaluate pregnant women and neonates for herpes simplex virus was published in the journal Pediatrics by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The tool requires the ability to conduct polymerase chain reaction tests for HSV DNA or type-specific serological tests. Medscape (free registration) (1/28)

Student midwife bill fails to make it past S.D. committee
Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, S.D.) (tiered subscription model) (1/24)

Professional Practice

Nursing dean says master's degrees, certification open doors
Vanderbilt University's retiring dean of nursing Colleen Conway-Welch says when she was first a nurse-midwife she found that nurses with master's degrees and certification had a distinct advantage in the profession and that is still the case today when "you can go anywhere and do anything." A shortage of faculty will "force us to be more nimble and look at additional educational models," she said. The Chronicle of Higher Education (free content) (1/28)

Survey finds greater demand for advanced practice clinicians
A survey by Sullivan, Cotter and Associates and the American Medical Group Association revealed 63% of responding medical groups saw a 17% increase in employment of advance practice clinicians in the past year, while 53% said they plan to grow APC employment by 15% in the coming year. The physician shortage and workforce realignment contributed to the increased demand, a researcher said. Drug Store News (1/9)

Policy, Ethics & Legal Update

Ill. officials to take up approval of birth center
Illinois state health officials this week are to consider approving the state's first free-standing birth center to offer low-risk woman an additional delivery option. The center in Berwyn would be staffed by certified nurse-midwives with support from doctors, and it would not provide general anesthesia or surgery. Chicago Tribune (tiered subscription model) (2/1)

Technology & Trends

Mich. neonatal staff has input in design of mobile NICU
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich., is getting a mobile NICU vehicle designed in part by its neonatal transport team. It's not as fast as using a helicopter, but neonatal outreach coordinator Lynette Johnson says the vehicle has more room for equipment needed to handle medical crises en route to the hospital. MLive.com (Michigan) (free registration) (1/10)

Software makes continuing education more interactive, team-based
New software from startup company ArcheMedX is designed to make continuing medical education for all health professionals more interactive. The software allows groups of professionals to work together online, answering customized questions and interacting with faculty as well as participating in in-person meetings. MedCityNews.com (1/30)

News from NCC

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The NCC Lecture Series offers in-depth learning modules and high-risk, low-frequency procedural reviews that you can access from your smartphone. The audio/visual lectures can be played on any digital device that allows for streaming video, including your home computer, smartphone or tablet. They provide excellent visual and auditory interpretation of critical aspects of providing care. Learn more.

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