COVID-19

Outside of the loss of human life due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the past two years have greatly affected hospitals, health systems and the way providers deliver care. Healthcare executives are grappling with federal monetary assistance, growing burnout rates, workforce shortages and federal oversight of vaccines and testing. This channel is also designed to update clinicians on new research and guidelines regarding COVID patient treatment strategies and risk assessments.

‘Highly effective’: COVID-19 vaccines reduced risk of heart failure, other cardiovascular complications after infection
Researchers explored data from more than 20 million adults for the new study, tracking both short- and long-term outcomes.
Inaccurate pulse oximeter readings impact Black heart failure patients and FDA plans to address this
Black patients are already less likely to receive LVADs or transplants compared to whites, and these inaccurate readings can further widen the disparities.
CVD deaths have increased dramatically, undoing years of progress
The COVID-19 pandemic undid years and years of progress in terms of preventing CVD-related deaths. What can be done to help reverse this trend once and for all?
Cardiologist reprimanded for performing surgery after testing positive for COVID-19
He has agreed to pay an administrative fee of $1,100 within the next three months.
Hospitals still struggling to reach pre-COVID heart attack care thresholds due to pandemic disruption
NCDR report finds hospitals are seeing improvements but are still struggling to reach pre-COVID treatment thresholds years after pandemic precautions upended longstanding processes.

There has been fear of a small number of patients who experience myocarditis after COVID vaccination, but a new study found it is safe in patients with prior heart damage. Image courtesy of Banner Health. #COVID19 #COVIDvaccination

COVID-19 vaccines safe for patients with a history of heart damage

“These results provide reassuring data that may encourage patients with a history of myocarditis to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2,” one specialist said.

March 17, 2022

Nurses caring for a COVID-19 patient in the COVID unit at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix.

Losartan fails to improve lung injuries in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Some of the study's findings even raised concerns that losartan could be harming these patients.

March 16, 2022

ACC consensus explains what cardiologists should look for in long COVID-19

The new consensus document provides a framework for understanding, evaluating, and managing some of the key cardiovascular sequelae of COVID-19

March 15, 2022

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can help patients with severe COVID-19 make a successful recovery. Venovenous ECMO (VV-ECMO) has the potential to minimize lung damage compared to conventional mechanical ventilation. ECMO unit in service with the COVID care unit at Banner Medical Center in Phoenix.

‘We learned that lung recovery was actually possible’: ECMO’s impact on COVID-19 patients in the ICU

The study's authors emphasized the importance of careful patient selection.

March 15, 2022

A patient has a telehealth visit with their doctor remotely in their home via video conferencing. The COVID-19 cause massive movement to telehealth since 2020.

Telehealth provided value for heart failure patients during COVID-19 pandemic

Overall, researchers found, 30-day readmission was less common when heart failure patients used telehealth to check in with a physician after discharge.

March 14, 2022

Doctor wearing a COVID N95 mask in the hospital. #Coronavirus #COVID19 #Sarscov2

Healthcare wage growth during COVID lagged behind other industries despite pandemic burden

The average wages for U.S. healthcare workers rose less than wages in other industries during 2020 and the first six months of 2021, despite the healthcare workforce shouldering the heavy burden of fighting the pandemic.

March 11, 2022

Congenital heart disease increases risk of poor COVID-19 outcomes, including death

Researchers examined data from more than 235,000 hospitalized patients treated in the United States.

March 7, 2022

During the 2022 State of the Union address, President Biden outlined a new plan to combat COVID-19 by testing and immediate treatment, plans to reduce drug costs, the need for more mental health coverage, and a call for more cancer research under an NIH program.

President Biden outlines new COVID plan in state of the union address

President Biden shared an outline of his new plan to combat the ongoing COVID-19 crisis during his State of the Union speech on March 1.

March 3, 2022

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New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

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What does radiology have to do with climate change?

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

COVID-19

‘Highly effective’: COVID-19 vaccines reduced risk of heart failure, other cardiovascular complications after infection

Inaccurate pulse oximeter readings impact Black heart failure patients and FDA plans to address this

CVD deaths have increased dramatically, undoing years of progress

Cardiologist reprimanded for performing surgery after testing positive for COVID-19

Hospitals still struggling to reach pre-COVID heart attack care thresholds due to pandemic disruption

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