Franklin Park woman advocates for women’s heart health via National Wear Red Day
The pin on Kim Leo’s outfit is a sparkling accessory. It’s there to make a statement – but not a fashion statement. She wears it to send a heartfelt message. The shiny piece of red jewelry in the shape of a dress represents the symbol for the American Heart Association’s...
Biden aims to reduce cancer deaths by 50% over next 25 years
President Joe Biden is committing to reduce the cancer death rate by 50% — a new goal for the “moonshot” initiative against the disease that was announced in 2016 when he was vice president. Biden has set a 25-year timeline for achieving that goal, part of his broader effort to...
UPMC says new treatment Evusheld reduces covid risk for immunocompromised
UPMC doctors say they are encouraged by the effectiveness of a new, preventative monoclonal antibody treatment that is administered to immunocompromised people before they contract covid-19. The two-shot Evusheld treatment received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration in early December, and UPMC got its first doses later...
Moderna announces full U.S. approval for its covid vaccine
WASHINGTON — Moderna announced Monday that U.S. health regulators granted full approval to its covid-19 vaccine, a shot that’s been given to tens of millions of Americans since its emergency authorization over a year ago. The action by the Food and Drug Administration means the agency has completed the same...
Pa. hospitals wrestle with nursing shortages as pandemic drags on
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Holding onto hope inside a covid ICU: ‘It’s like working in a war zone’Video
Inside a room in the intensive care unit at Allegheny Health Network’s Jefferson Hospital, a covid-infected man lies prone on his stomach, hooked up to a ventilator that is breathing for him. The room is noisy, even though the man can’t speak. Chimes and beeps are accompanied by the constant,...
Pa. hospitals wrestle with nursing shortages as pandemic drags on
The stress of a two-year pandemic combined with an aging workforce and shortage of teachers has led to a critical staffing shortage among nurses. Joy Peters, chief nursing officer for Allegheny Health Network’s Jefferson Hospital, said staffing levels in almost every department at Jefferson are down 30% to 40% from...
Western Pennsylvania experts advocating in support of doulas
Doulas provide physical, emotional and informational support for parents during labor. The care these individuals provide is not usually covered by health insurance. There is movement towards having their services paid for, as well as certifications for all doulas, said Robert Ferguson, chief policy officer for the Jewish Healthcare Foundation...
Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas embrace parents through the loss of a baby
Their tiny hands will never hold on to their parents. Their small feet will never take a step. Their eyes will never open wide with wonder. The unthinkable death of a baby is a moment that lives on in a parent’s heart forever. The heartache of losing them is infinite....
Olivia’s Angels Perinatal Palliative Care Program helps families through loss of a newborn
Olivia died a few hours after birth on Oct. 2, 1999. Her parents Susan and Dan Bevevino wanted to honor their daughter’s memory and legacy. The couple helped establish Olivia’s Angels Perinatal Palliative Care Program at Allegheny Health Network. “When you face tragedy, people often say ‘things happen for a...
2 powerful drugs now adding to U.S. overdose crisis
NEW YORK — Emerging reports show that two little-known drugs are making lethal new contributions to America’s drug overdose crisis. Para-fluorofentanyl and metonitazene are being seen more often by medical examiners looking into overdose deaths, according to a government report published Thursday. They often are taken with — or mixed...
Pa. to spend $225M to retain, recruit hospital nurses, provide loan debt relief
Local hospital and nursing school officials hope $225 million in federal money being allocated to retain and recruit nursing staff in Pennsylvania, as well as provide debt relief to nursing students, is a step toward reducing a critical shortage in the profession. “Over the past year, we have been providing...
Vaccine mandate for 1st wave of health care workers to kick in
Health care workers in Pennsylvania and about half the states face a Thursday deadline to get their first dose of the covid-19 vaccine under a Biden administration mandate that will be rolled out across the rest of the country in the coming weeks. While the requirement is welcomed by some,...
Medicare posts key nursing home staffing info for consumers
WASHINGTON — Shining a light on key markers for nursing home quality, Medicare said Wednesday it is now posting details on staff turnover and weekend nurse coverage on its Care Compare website, where families can research a facility. The move by the Biden administration comes as covid-19 cases and deaths...
FDA halts use of antibody drugs that don’t work against omicron
WASHINGTON — Covid-19 antibody drugs from Regeneron and Eli Lilly should no longer be used because they don’t work against the omicron variant that now accounts for nearly all U.S. infections, U.S. health regulators said Monday. The Food and Drug Administration said it was revoking emergency authorization for both drugs,...
AHN patients possible victims of data breach
The data of Allegheny Health Network Home Infusion (AHNHI) patients may have been improperly accessed after the data breach of a vendor, officials said Friday. Vantage Healthcare Network, Inc., a vendor of Pittsburgh-based AHNHI, was the victim of a ransomware cyber-attack in October. AHNHI is now in the process of...
Mark Cuban’s online pharmacy touting low-cost prescription drugs now open
Mark Cuban’s online pharmacy promising affordable prices on prescription medications is up and running. The Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company cuts out middlemen and negotiates directly with drug manufacturers and pharmacies for rebates and discounts on behalf of employers, health insurers and government health programs. It says it’s offering...
Covid hospitalizations high among young children in Allegheny County
Last month, covid-19 hospitalizations among young children jumped to the highest level since the start of the pandemic, increasing more than 14-fold from mid-December to the end of the month, according to data collected by the Allegheny County Health Department. The numbers look at hospital admissions by week. The week...
1st for Louisiana: Drug-resistant fungus found at hospital
A hospital in New Orleans says it has identified two patients infected with a rare, drug-resistant fungus — the first time it’s been found in Louisiana. Candida auris has already been found in Washington, D.C., and at least 20 other states including Georgia, Florida and Texas, according to the Centers...
What the No Surprises Act means for your medical bills
More Americans worry about unexpected medical bills than any other expense, according to polls by the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2018 and 2020. Unfortunately, those bills aren’t rare: 18% of emergency visits and 16% of in-network hospital stays had at least one out-of-network charge, a 2020 Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker...
UPMC names Diane Hupp new president of Children’s Hospital
Diane Hupp has been named president of UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, the health system announced Tuesday. Hupp, 57, of Fox Chapel, began working at Children’s Hospital as a volunteer 36 years ago. She has since served in several administrative leadership roles, including chief nursing officer, vice president of patient...
Experts back CDC guidance recommending N95, KN95 masks
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its mask guidance to recommend higher-quality N95 and KN95 masks over cloth and surgical ones that many people have worn throughout the pandemic. Cloth masks can keep 30% to 60% of particles from coming in and potentially infecting the person wearing...
Megan’s Law for nursing homes gaining traction in Harrisburg
A state lawmaker is making good on a promise to repair a flawed system that permits aging and ailing convicted sex offenders to quietly enter long-term care facilities — often unbeknownst to patients and staff — where some easily are finding their next victims. A bill set to be introduced...
Allegheny Health Network to require people wear surgical-type masks in all facilities
Allegheny Health Network officials announced changes late Friday to mask requirements for all facilities. AHN now requires all patients, visitors and care teams to wear a surgical-type, N95 or KN95 face mask. Such masks will be provided to those who do not have one. Officials said cloth face masks were...
UPMC insurance sets covid test reimbursement guidelines
UPMC Health Plan announced procedures Friday night for employers and individuals covered under UPMC insurance to get reimbursed for eligible home covid tests. The Pittsburgh-based health insurer said that it will take requests for reimbursement by mail and also is creating an online system. The health plan, associated with UPMC’s...
