The Big Picture: NAHC President Bill Dombi Shares 2022 Outlook & Predictions

December 2, 2021 (9:00 a.m. MT)

Cost: Free

In this in-depth webinar, NAHC President Bill Dombi will present his expert insight and discuss the big issues impacting home care and hospice now and in the future. Joined by Netsmart SVP, Post-Acute Strategy, Mike Dordick, these two healthcare leaders will help you plot the turns ahead in our constantly changing industry – something you don’t want to miss.

Register Here

https://pages.ntst.com/NAHC-2022-outlook-and-predictions.html

Data re: COVID-19 Vaccination Before or During Pregnancy

A recent CDC report indicated that risk of stillbirth was 90% greater for pregnant women with COVID-19 when compared to women without COVID-19. This risk was even higher during the period after the Delta variant was introduced.  

Summary of Reported Findings

What is already known about this topic?

Pregnant women are at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, and COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk for adverse perinatal outcomes.

What is added by this report?

Among 1,249,634 delivery hospitalizations during March 2020–September 2021, U.S. women with COVID-19 were at increased risk for stillbirth compared with women without COVID-19 (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 1.90; 95% CI = 1.69–2.15). The magnitude of association was higher during the period of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant predominance than during the pre-Delta period.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Implementing evidence-based COVID-19 prevention strategies, including vaccination before or during pregnancy, is critical to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on stillbirths.

Read the CDC MMWR report  

Investigation of the effect of a 15-degree tilt-in-space on the fluctuation of shear forces exerted on the buttocks when the back support is reclined

Kenichi Kobara, Yasuyuki Nagata, Daisuke Fujita, Hisashi Takahashi, Hiroshi Osaka, Tadanobu Suehiro

Abstract

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effect of the combination of 15° tilt-in-space and recline angles on the fluctuation of shear forces exerted on the buttocks. 

[Participants and Methods] The participants were 11 healthy adult males. The parameters of the shear forces were the parallel and perpendicular forces exerted on the buttocks as measured by a force plate. The two conditions tested were T0R100-130 and T15R100-130. The tilt-in-space angles were set to 0° and 15° in the T0R100-130 and T15R100-130 conditions, respectively. The reclining angles were determined to be 100° to 130° in both conditions. 

[Results] Upon comparing the two conditions, the parallel and the perpendicular forces exerted on the buttocks in the T15R100-130 condition were significantly lower than those in the T0R100-130 condition in all positions of back support. Upon comparing the fluctuation values of the parallel and perpendicular forces, those applied in the T15R100-130 condition were significantly higher than those in the T0R100-130 condition. 

[Conclusion] These results suggest that the fluctuation of shear forces exerted on the buttocks could be decreased by using a combination of 15° tilt-in-space and reclining functions.

Access Article: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpts/33/11/33_2021-103/_article/-char/en

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra: All Adults Are Now Eligible for COVID-19 Booster Shots

On the heels of the FDA and CDC decisions to expand COVID-19 booster shots to all adults, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra issued following statement:
 
“All adults are now eligible for COVID-19 booster shots. After thorough review of the data, we are following the science, which shows boosters can help increase people’s protection from COVID-19 and help us reduce infections and severe outcomes. This is especially important ahead of the winter months, where we all spend more time indoors. I am grateful to the hard-working scientists at the FDA and CDC for their rigorous, independent decision-making on booster shots and their ongoing commitment to keeping us all safe.

“As President Biden has said, we are committed to using every tool at our disposal to fight the virus on our path out of the pandemic, and boosters are important for strengthening people’s protection from disease and helping us stave off a worse winter surge. We will continue to pull every lever we have to get all Americans vaccinated, but for the adults who are already vaccinated, you can get your booster six months after your second dose of either Pfizer or Moderna, or two months after your single dose of J&J. Getting a booster can help keep you—and those around you—even safer. If you are eligible, please go to vaccines.gov to find available vaccine near you and schedule your booster appointment today.”