May 2024

OR am newsletter subscribers found these articles to be the most interesting during the month of April.

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Ransomware group targeting Change Healthcare receives $22m Bitcoin payment

BlackCat, the ransomware group responsible for the cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group’s Change Healthcare received a $22 million payment in bitcoins, according to a post the group made online.?Reutors reported the news March 4. Change Healthcare provides payment and…Read More

Private equity healthcare ownership draws new scrutiny

Over the last 10 years, private equity has taken over many of the nation’s health care facilities—from hospitals to nursing homes to physician practices—spending $1 trillion and instituting changes designed to rapidly increase profits, NBC News reported April...Read More

Joint replacement manufacturer recalls products after FDA packaging warning

A January complaint about inefficient packaging for joint replacement products has prompted the manufacturer to recall certain knee and shoulder system devices after initially declining to take the products off the market, according to an April 23 report...Read More

WHO: Virus transmission airborne, not limited to droplets

In a move one expert calls “a complete U-turn,” the World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that viruses transmit through primarily the air via inhalation of tiny suspended particles of saliva and mucus, KFF Health News reported on...Read More

Surgical site infections often caused by preexisting bacteria

Most healthcare-associated surgical site infections are not caused by pathogens acquired in the hospital, but by previously harmless bacteria already present on patients’ skin prior to being admitted, according to a study published April 10 in Science Translational...Read More

Catheter sterility concerns prompt Class 1 FDA recall for surgery trays

The US Food and Drug Administration has designated DeRoyal Industries’ recall of GeoMed custom tracecarts a class 1, the most serious type of recall indicating a risk of serious injury or death. According to the April 24 FDA...Read More

Long-lasting heart valves poised to set world record

More than 45 years after surgery, Mary Ann Kozlowski’s mechanical heart valves are still pumping—and Guinness is reviewing an application to list her as the new world record-holder for longevity of a double-valve replacement. That’s according to a...Read More

AAMI guidance covers sterile processing of dilators, ultrasound probes

A new guidance document covering the entire process for the selection, labeling, and sterile processing of dilators and ultrasound probes is available from The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Released April 17, AAMI TIR99:2024; Processing...Read More

Joint Commission identifies most cited certification performance requirements

Recognizing that complying with some standards is more difficult than complying with others, The Joint Commission regularly evaluates which areas are most difficult so it can tailor education accordingly. To that end, a May 7 report reveals the...Read More

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