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  • Oct. 18, 2024. The need to revise the NIOSH REL for Noise Downward -- Dr. Daniel Fink
    Dr. Daniel Fink, MD, MBA discusses the NIOSH REL (recommended exposure limit) for noise and the need to revise it downward. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set the recommended limit at 85 dBA. A-weighting adjusts sound level measurements to reflect the frequencies heard in human speech. However, at this noise exposure level, for the standard occupational exposure time of 8 hours/day, 5 days/week, 50 weeks/year, for 40 years at work, there is an 8% risk of developing occupational noise-induced hearing loss. OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise is 90dBA which creates a 25% excess risk of developing occupational noise-induced hearing loss. For the general public and for inherently quiet industries such as healthcare these RELs are far too high since the excess risk for developing hearing loss in these settings should be exceedingly low. Acceptable risk as outlined by the WHO in a book about safe drinking water standards should be between 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 1 million. Thus, we need more stringent guidelines for the protection of the public and workers in inherently quiet industries.  Health Watch USAsm meeting Oct. 17, 2024 View YouTube Video at https://youtu.be/Gg6HTrpAo8s  

  • Aug. 20, 2024. COVID-19 Patient Outcomes in the Context of Hospitals Chronically Under-Resourced Nursing Services YouTube Video https://youtu.be/6toFNY86uIc  
    Dr. Karen B. Lasater, PhD, RN, FAAN presents on nurse staffing, working environment and nurse to patient ratios' impact on COVID-19 patient mortality. The presentation discusses the newly published article in the international Journal of Nursing Studies entitled: "Hospital nurse staffing variation and Covid-19 deaths: A cross-sectional study" https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020748924001421
     
    The researchers observed that for each additional patient assigned to a nurse there was on average a 20% higher risk of in-hospital death. The article concludes: "Patients with Covid-19 admitted to hospitals with adequate numbers of RNs caring for patients, a workforce rich in BSN-qualified RNs, and high-quality nurse work environments (both prior to and during the Covid-19 pandemic) were more likely to survive the hospitalization. Bolstering these hospital nursing resources during ordinary times is necessary to ensure better patient outcomes and emergency-preparedness of hospitals for future public health emergencies." Health Watch USAsm meeting August 21, 2024. YouTube Video https://youtu.be/6toFNY86uIc   

  • July 18, 2024. The Changing Role of Agency Oversight & The Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decision.
    Edie Brous, esq, past president of the American Association of Nurse Attorneys discusses the changes in the process and evolution of regulatory oversight which has occurred through the last century and the potential transformational changes the recent U.S. Supreme Court Decision will initiate. Nurse Attorney Brous will present "A short history on how we got to the Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision and its implications for worker safety." Health Watch USAsm meeting. July 18, 2024. View Video: https://youtu.be/SPLVRjubkNw

    Landmark Court cases:
    Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council 6/25/84
    https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/467/837/ 
    Loper Bright Enterprises, et al, v. Raimondo, 6/28/24
    https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-451_7m58.pdf 
    Corner Post Inc. v Board of Governors 7/1/24
    https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-1008_1b82.pdf  

  • June 19, 2024. COVID-19, an Update and Critical Evaluation of the United Kingdom's Response
    Dr. Jonathan Fluxman presents a COVID-19 update, summarizing our current knowledge and mistakes made during the pandemic. COVID-19 is more of a vascular and immunological disease than a respiratory one. It is primarily spread through respiration and the virus is airborne. The delayed recognition and then once recognized the failure to act to prevent airborne spread is one of the greatest mistakes of the epidemic. Vaccines provide a degree of protection against hospitalizations, deaths and long COVID but not nearly enough to abandon other mitigation measures. Improvements in ventilation are crucial to mitigating indoor spread. The importance of this is underscored by the pandemic being largely driven by super spreader events in congregate settings. Of great concern are the reinfections which are occurring, almost everyone has been infected several times and with each infection the chances of developing long COVID increases. Even children are affected. It is estimated that 12% of children develop long COVID after the first infection, and 16% after the second. The implications of long COVID and delayed organ damage on our society is discussed. Finally, a critique of the United Kingdom's COVID-19 is presented with a discussion of its shortcomings and needed improvements. Health Watch USAsm meeting. View Presentation: https://youtu.be/k6e2ub-vB84   

  • May 15, 2024. Overview of the Impacts of Long COVID on Behavioral Health.
    Dr. Jacqueline H Becker discusses the definition of Long COVID along with its incidence, impacts on disparate populations and challenges in treatment. The presentation emphasizes the impact of Long COVID on cognitive abilities, executive function and personalities along with potential biological and environmental etiologies. Health Watch USAsm meeting. View Video: https://youtu.be/aZdv-zXA4N4 

  • Apr. 17, 2023. Impacts of COVID-19 in Pathology and Cancer Care.
    Dr. Kaitlin Sundling, MD, PhD discusses the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients and needed precautions the healthcare system needs to adopt to augment the safety of immunocompromised patients. A comprehensive listing of topics and discussions are listed in the timeline below.

    Health Watch USAsm meeting, April 14, 2024. https://youtu.be/LLN7jB_Vwrk 

    Timeline

    02:00 Pap test a public health success story.
    04:31 Decrease in cancer screening during the pandemic.
    05:54 Recommended time for initial HPV primary screening.
    07:46 Impact of COVID-19 on cancer screening.
    09:18 Parallels between COVID-19 antivax movement and HPV vaccination adoption.
    12:06 Other Viruses which can cause cancer (HPB, HBV, EBV, HIV, HHV-8, HTLV-1, Merkel cell Polyomavirus).
    13:14 COVID-19's lung damage pathology.
    15:02 Pathology examples of COVID-19's multi-system organ damage.
    15:39 Long-term impact of COVID-19 on cancer risks is not known.
    16:53 Many forms of Long COVID.
    17:38 How can cancer patients decrease the chances of catching COVID-19?
    19:27 Healthcare facilities and providers need to implement strategies to protect high-risk patients.
    20:24 COVID-19 vaccination of cancer patients.
    21:07 Cancer increases the risk of COVID-19.
    22:15 Expert disagreement with the CDC's relaxation of COVID-19 preventive strategies.
    23:11 Misinformation similarities with COVID-19 and cancer.
    24:21 Impact of COVID-19 on pathology practices and resident training, along with mitigation strategies.
    26:51 Need for multi-layered COVID protections and virtual options in medical training and conferences.
    28:06 Impact of artificial intelligence on pathological practices.
    30:37 Dr. Rudolf Virchow: An old but new approach to medicine.
    31:38 References and Resources

    An expanded version of this talk (41 minutes) with a more detailed description of the PAP Test and HPV diagnoses along with an expanded comparison of automated versus human microscopic pathological diagnosis can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/76RIdKi34U8

  • Mar. 20, 2024. Long COVID Scotland - Dr. Sally Witcher and Jane Ormerod
    Sally Witcher, PhD and Jane Ormerod from long COVID Scotland discuss the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and long COVID in the United Kingdom and Scotland. The presenters stressed the lack of available healthcare for those suffering from long COVID and also the lack of gathering data and transparency regarding the magnitude of the problem. Governmental strategies are over reliant on vaccinations and even if vaccines produced ironclad durable immunity, they are not widely available to the general public. Few if any are masking, including medical personnel in major healthcare centers. Similar to many countries, there is rampant misinformation which is inhibiting the public health response. Currently, the United Kingdom's workforce is being adversely affected to a large degree by chronic illnesses, but there remains little discussion or recognition of the impacts of long COVID. Health Watch USAsm meeting, Mar. 20, 2024. View YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/K22GqxLKrRg   

  •  Feb. 21, 2024. Irregular reemergence of pathogens after lifting of pandemic restrictions - Matthias Maiwald, MD
    Dr. Matthias Maiwald presents on the patterns of pathogen re-emergence after the COVID-19 pandemic. This is based on respiratory multiplex PCR data from a major women’s and children’s hospital in Singapore between 2019 and 2023. The dataset includes 83,250 results, mostly from paediatric patients. Pandemic response measures disrupted the usual patterns of respiratory pathogens, and the subsequent relaxation affected their re-emergence. Nonenveloped viruses returned first, and some viruses (e.g. respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]) had out-of-season peaks that were higher than pre-pandemic peaks, and some other viruses (e.g. adenovirus and metapneumovirus) had unusual phases of high activity. Bordetella pertussis (agent of whooping cough) remained near-absent until the end of 2023, while Bordetella parapertussis (agent of parapertussis) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (agent of childhood pneumonia) started to return around March 2023. Population-based immunological susceptibility and unusual exposure patterns presumably played a role in these observed phenomena. Health Watch USAsm Meeting. View YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/Yx_VyP3Z9wI

  • Sept. 20, 2023. Navigating COVID-19: How Kidney Patients Have Taken Responsibility to Protect Themselves
    Paul Conway, Chair of Policy & Global Affairs - American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) presents on the continued dangers of COVID-19 and calls on the Federal government and healthcare industry to continue strategies to protect vulnerable patients.
    In addition to continued mitigation and prevention of COVID-19, the government should:

    • Align regulation and payment policies for vaccine innovation.

    • Foster innovation for immunosuppressive drugs for transplant patients via the FDA immediately.

    • Formalize telemedicine flexibilities.

    • Expand home dialysis options so more patients can qualify.

    • Protect the rights of kidney patients under the ADA.

    • Expand data transparency and access to patients, researchers and elected officials.

Finally, the CDC needs to implement stronger mitigation strategies in healthcare settings to ensure the safest possible healthcare for vulnerable patients. Health Watch USAsm meeting  https://youtu.be/NFmIGCrM3l0      

  • The Economic and Societal Cost of Disinformation and Not Implementing Optimal Strategies.
    Dr. Richard Bruns, PhD discusses cost-benefit analysis of public health initiatives. This analysis can be applied to the cost of implementing, discouraging, and not implementing preventative strategies. The calculation relies on the determination of the number of lives saved along with the cost of saving each life, and if the amount of resources allocated would cost more lives than lives saved. In the United States, the breakeven point for strategies is spending 10 million dollars per life saved, or $500,000 per life year saved. The effects of misinformation and disinformation have discouraged many from becoming vaccinated. When assigning dollar values to the lives lost and health harms of not getting vaccinated, misinformation has a monetized cost of between 50 to 300 million dollars every day, almost all of which is due to the health harms. There is a clear and large benefit to implementing preventative public health strategies. It does not make economic sense to discontinue preprocedural testing for COVID-19 or to drop masking requirements. It is amazing how facilities will not pay for high quality personal protective equipment (PPE). The cost in disability, lives and in healthcare disruption more than justifies expenditures for these strategies. Health Watch USAsm meeting: Aug. 16, 2023. https://youtu.be/qJItlfQsO8k 

  • July 19, 2023. Affordable High-quality Medical Security for All Americans - Alan Sager, PhD
    Dr. Alan Sager, PhD, sketches a plan for health care for all in the United States. We currently spend five times as much on healthcare as defense. That spending should be enough to make medical security for everyone the easiest problem to solve in our nation. Today, though, the political path of least resistance is to just throw more money to allow unequal and ineffective business-as-usual to limp along. But that money will run out within the next decade. So we need to be ready with solid ways to stabilize and reform health care. Unfortunately, health care in the U.S. lacks both a functioning free market and effective government oversight. Monopolies and bureaucracies rarely work well for those who rely on them. We therefore have to develop and test simple and trustworthy ways to cover everyone, contain cost, pay doctors and hospitals and other caregivers, and make sure we have the right caregivers in the right places.  Health Watch USAsm meeting. https://youtu.be/kJDnlo-seew  

  • Jun. 21, 2023. Outbreak Prevention and Mitigation in a Conflict Zone: Ukraine in 2023 - Wiliam Pewen, MD, PhD
    Dr. William Pewen discusses the difficulties in vaccinating the population in an active conflict zone. Difficulties with vaccine funding, distribution and disinformation are discussed along with the vaccination history and future outlook for Ukraine. Health Watch USA(sm) meeting, June 21, 2023. https://youtu.be/n244tNGaykA

  • Jun. 7, 2023. The Unbearable Mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 Endemicity
    Dr. Georgios Pappas, a physician from Greece, specializing in zoonotic infections and epidemic preparedness and known for his detailed report on the largest laboratory accident in Southeast Asia which release Brucella discussed the Endemicity of COVID-19. He discusses the Greek experience in combating COVID-19 and the political forces in his country which both helped and hindered the public health effort. These forces include: The Church, The Russian Factor, Scientific Dissidents, Political Dissidents, the Need for Tourists and The Pandemic as a Political issue. There are 14 fallacies (mis and disinformation) which segments of the public hold regarding the virus. These include:

    1. The virus is gone.
    2. SARS-CoV-2 is just another Influenza.
    3. The Epidemic is Mild.
    4. SARS-CoV-2 needs to adapt.
    5. Omicron is milder.
    6. We can predict the viral moves.
    7. Eventually, we will achieve herd immunity.
    8. We can rely on treatments.
    9. Immunocompromised should shelter.
    10. Minimal risk for the "young & healthy".
    11. Healthcare can handle it.
    12. The truth will (automatically) prevail.
    13. It's not our job.
    14. We won.

    Health Watch USAsm meeting, June 7, 2028. https://youtu.be/ZxM-PQ_Mryw 
     

  • May 17, 2023.  Dr. Amed Awan, MD, MPH discusses misinformation and its impact on medicine and public health.
    Misinformation and purposefully spread disinformation is being widely posted on social media with little review of its validity. People spend an average of two and a half hours on social media every day. Over 70% of those in the United States use social media daily. Disinformation is prevalent, exemplified by the Washington Post publishing a leaked document which states only 1% of fake Russian social media profiles are caught. The COVID-19 pandemic has been politicized and there are political motives for disseminating disinformation. The consequences are staggering. We know that more than 1.1 million individuals have died of COVID-19. As of May 2022, there were over 318,000 vaccine preventable deaths. Individuals whose deaths were largely caused by mis and disinformation. Health Watch USAsm meeting. May 17, 2023. https://youtu.be/NSecP05PrMo 

  • Apr. 19, 2023. Origins of COVID0-19 based upon computer modeling and vaccine design.
    Nikolai Petrovsky, MBBS, PhD discusses computer modeling of the ACE2 receptors of various species along with vaccine development and the insights these provide into the origin of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus which causes COVID-19). Of importance is that the Furin Cleavage Site on the SARS-CoV-2 virus is not found in SARS-CoV-1 or in the broader family of viruses. The Furin Cleavage Site can be obtained through mutation or recombination, but neither seems plausible. The binding of the original virus to the ACE2 receptor has the highest affinity to human receptors. It binds less tightly to other animal cells. The pangolin was felt to be a possible intermediary host. The recovered coronavirus from this animal had a highly similar spike protein to SARS-CoV-2, but the remainder of the virus was highly dissimilar. The possibility was discussed that the pangolin may be the source of an artificially transferred spike protein to SARS-CoV-2. Modeling predicted that COVID-19 would not efficiently bind to the bat ACE2 receptor which supports the need for an intermediate host. The strongest viral binding to any ACE2 animal receptor studied, was to humans, which in itself indicates the original virus was already optimally evolved to infect humans at the very first of the pandemic. Health Watch USAsm meeting April 19, 2023. https://youtu.be/h_3LhZppIow  

  • Mar. 15, 2023. One Health and the potential of H5N1 jumping from Birds to Humans - Dr. Daniel Perez
    Daniel Perez, PhD discusses avian influenza viruses. Some, such as the H5N1 are highly pathogenic and have low infectivity in humans while others have low pathogenicity such as the H9N2 virus but are highly infectious in humans. Even though the H5N1 has caused a massive avian pandemic, there are relatively few cases in humans in the past 6 years compared to 2015 and before. Thus, the risks to humans are low, but there is significant concern regarding risks to our food supply. Whole inactivated virus adjuvanted vaccines gave a stronger immunological response than modified attenuated viral vaccines. However, immunomodulators can increase the response to attenuated viral vaccines. Vaccination of poultry is labor intensive. The use of attenuated live viral vaccines has distinct advantages in agriculture. In addition, some countries will not import vaccinated poultry.
     

    Several lessons can be learned regarding our current pandemic.
    1. The geographic breadth and size of the current N5H1 pandemic is of significant concern regarding possible emergence of new variants which have increased adaption for infection of humans and mammals.
    2. Viral mutations and new clades do not necessarily mean lower pathogenicity.
    3. Animal reservoirs can cause the recurrence of a viral strain which became extinct in humans. This happened with the H1N1 influenza virus.

    Health Watch USAsm meeting March 15, 2023. https://youtu.be/O0Fj95cECcE  
       

  • Feb. 15, 2021. Immune Debt Versus SARS-CoV-2 Immune Dysfunction
    Dr. Kevin Kavanagh from Health Watch USAsm explains why Immune Dysfunction is thought by many to be the main driver of the surges in bacterial and viral infections the world is experiencing. Immune debt caused by lockdowns is an unlikely cause of the RSV surges. For example, Sweden had two large surges of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections but did not have lockdowns and had little use of masking by the public. Dr. Kavanagh presents both epidemiological, clinical and laboratory evidence to support this etiology. The overriding message is that public health interventions, such as masking and social distancing protect individuals and communities and do not cause harm. Health Watch USAsm Meeting. Feb. 15, 2023. https://youtu.be/0UaveBlCuPg    

  • Nov. 16, 2022. COVID-19: New Variants and the BA.5 Bivalent Booster
    Dr. Wilmore C. Webley, Assoc. Professor & Assoc. Dean, Office of Inclusion & Engagement in the Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Dr. Webley has received a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with expertise in immunology, infectious disease, host-pathogen interactions, and a concentration in vaccine development. Dr. Webley discusses the new bivalent BA.5 booster and the challenges the new variants impose. In addition, an overview is presented on the life cycle of viruses, their propensity for mutation and the ever-increasing myriad of SARS-CoV-2 variants which have evolved. An overview of the WHO classification of viruses is also given. Health Watch USA Meeting. Nov. 16, 2022. https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20221121-WilmoreWebley.htm      

  • Oct. 19, 2022. Mitigating the Effect of COVID in Children: The Struggle Continues
    Allen Geller, RN, MPH, from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health discusses COVID-19 in children. COVID-19 is still a serious pandemic in the United States with 350 to 400 total deaths per day. Children can get COVID-19 and develop serious disease. A common misconception is that children do not spread the disease, but they can spread it to both teachers and caregivers. Schools are one of the great reservoirs for transmission of COVID. For school safety, during high levels of community spread, masking, rapid testing and cohorting are strategies which should be implemented. Students should be vaccinated before the start of the school year. One of the goals for adequate ventilation is at least 6 air exchanges per hour which has led to better health outcome and is important for cognition and reducing school absences. During the pandemic there was approximately a doubling of absenteeism.
    • Push for districts to promote vaccinating a large number of 5 to 11 year olds that are still not vaccinated.
    • Work with districts to rebuild their COVID dashboards.
    • Regular testing of children is supported by two-thirds of parents. Make provisions of rapid antigen tests opt-out rather than opt-in. There is strong support for providing take home rapid tests.
    • Strongly reconsider remasking in periods of surges reviewing week by week attendance data.
    • Wastewater testing has the potential of being used to monitor for the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in schools.
    • School based attendance records are also important triggers for medical and public health review.
    • Portable CO2 monitors should be used to monitor air quality in school rooms.
    Health Watch USAsm meeting, Oct. 19, 2022.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20221019-AllenGeller.htm   

  • June 15, 2022. Just Culture, Normalization of Deviance - The RaDonda Vaught Case
    Brian Thomas, JD, Board Member of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) presents the APSF's position statement on criminalization of medical errors. He reviews the RaDonda Vaught case and the published factors which led up to fatal medical drug error, including system institutional errors. Emphasis was placed on the Normalization of Deviance and the need for a Just Culture. There is a concerning potential that institutional conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic have deteriorated with increased utilization of floater and agency nurses. The former was a factor in the RaDonda Vaught Case. Health Watch USAsm Meeting. https://youtu.be/tar6RfQTioo 

  • May 18, 2022.   Insights Into Patterns of Bacterial Resistance During Seasonal Flu and COVID-19 Surges
    Dr. Vikas Gupta, Director, MMS Medical Affairs at Becton, Dickinson and Company; and Dr. Kalvin Yu, Vice President, Medical & Scientific Affairs, US Region. Prior to being at BD, Dr Yu was Chief of Infectious Diseases at Southern California Kaiser Permanente. They discuss "Insights from near real-time data on infection rates and related outcomes in the post COVID-19 vaccine period." They also give insights into patterns of rising bacterial resistance that they have observed during this time period. Health Watch USAsm Meeting. https://youtu.be/RG57cihIbv4  

  • Apr. 20, 2022.  COVID-19: Animal Hosts of Human Viral Infections - Andrew Bowman, MS, DVM
    Dr. Andrew Bowman describes the importance of animal hosts and how swine-human interfaces have fueled Seasonal Flu mutations and pandemics over the last century. In addition, he stresses the importance of county and state fairs as a human animal interface that has the potential of spreading zoonotic disease over large areas of our nation, similar to the Wuhan Animal Market in China. Health Watch USAsm Meeting. https://youtu.be/r2RdF2aH2_Y

  • Mar. 16, 2022.  The Dark Side of Science: Misconduct in Biomedical Research
    Elizabeth Bik, PhD discusses research integrity problems in published journals. She discusses examples of plagiarism, falsification and fabrication. Dr. Bik estimates research integrity problems affect 5% to 10% of published peer reviewed scientific papers . In a review of 782 papers which had integrity problems which were reported 5 years previously to the publication, journal editors took no action on 65.5%, corrected 26.9%, retracted 7.4% and published an expression of concern in 0.3%, Some integrity problems are the result of an organized disinformation effort based in China, Russia and Iran, which generates fake research and manuscripts for those willing to purchase their services. Methods of distinguishing fake and flawed research is also discussed. Health Watch USAsm Meeting. Mar. 16, 2022.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20220316-HWUSA-Elizabeth_Bik.htm    https://youtu.be/jAEe8iVvteU    

  • Feb. 16, 2022.  COVID-19: School Safety and Mitigation in Massachusetts
    Amanda Mulcahy, RN describes the COVID-19 mitigation strategies which have been implemented at her Massachusetts' school system. These include upgrading ventilation, masks, social distancing, barriers, outdoor classes, robust testing, vaccinations and boosters, and symptom monitoring and tracking. The collection of data was also used to evaluate strategies and to guide the timing of implementation. Health Watch USAsm Meeting. Feb.16, 2022.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20220216-HWUSAMulcahy.htm    https://youtu.be/JVYKWhW0ffk  

  • Jan. 20, 2022.  COVID-19 Update in the State of Florida and Issues Beyond
    Linda Spaulding, RN, CIC discusses the current state of COVID-19 in the State of Florida. Topics include, staffing shortages, worker safety, violence against healthcare workers and reduced access to healthcare with critical non-COVID patients. Health Watch USA Meeting. Jan. 20, 2022.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20220119-HWUSA-Spaulding.htm   https://youtu.be/ARiwww_NX30   

  • Dec. 15, 2021.  COVID-19: A Perspective from Healthcare Professionals from Around The World.
    On Dec 15, 2021, a meeting of prominent infectious disease experts from around the world was conducted by Health Watch USAsm. Authorities from the United States, Singapore, Australia, Germany, and Peru were in attendance along with a short narrative update from the United Kingdom. Overall, all nations are reporting a significant rise in cases due to the Delta Variant. Omicron is starting to take hold and the United Kingdom is bracing for an onslaught of patients which may overrun their healthcare system. Preventative strategies and barriers of the various countries are presented. Strategies discussed are masking, testing, travel bans, vaccine passports, natural immunity, vaccinations and financial disincentives. The United States, similar to other countries around the world, have little or no reserve to muster to confront an onslaught of hospitalizations due to the highly infectious Omicron Variant. Unless the United States starts to embrace public health advice, COVID-19 may become a catastrophe both in lives ruined, lost and in economically breaking dollar costs. Health Watch USA Meeting. Dec. 15, 2021.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20211215-International-COVID-19.htm    https://youtu.be/QOgZcBPqBEk  

  • COVID-19: Cardiac Manifestations in the Young and Occupational Health For Front Line Workers.
    Carol A. Clancy, NP-C, MSN, presents a severe case of COVID-19 in a young family member who developed severe myocarditis requiring ECMO but had few pulmonary symptoms. This case underscores the occupational health risks encountered by even young frontline workers. The pharmaceutical industry implemented a robust system to protect their workers, including weekly COVID-19 testing, access to onsite and home testing as needed, availability of abundant PPE, upgrading building ventilation systems, the ability for workers to work from home (if able), and paid sick leave with presumptive short-term disability. Many other sectors of the healthcare industry did not provide this degree of support for frontline workers. Health Watch USAsm Meeting. Nov. 17, 2021.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20211117-HWUSA-Clancy.htm   https://youtu.be/sHfaIhc_Owg 

  • COVID-19: Dr. Ed Nardell Discusses Advantages of UV-C Air Disinfection Using Upper Room Fixtures.
    Dr. Nardell is professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, discusses germicidal UV is the essential technology for disinfecting air in rooms where transmission is occurring. Dr. Nardell provides information on the efficacy and safety of UV-C along with comparing the efficacy of upper room disinfection units to free standing inbox units and UV-C in central air conditioning and heating systems. In a pandemic a goal of 20 complete air exchanges per hour is ideal and upper room UV-C is a cost efficient and safe way of achieving this goal. In addition, the use of carbon dioxide monitors to determine rebreathed air fraction and infection risk is also discussed. Health Watch USA
    sm Meeting. Oct. 20, 2021. https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20211020-HWUSA-Nardell.htm      https://youtu.be/HAt9b-lxW38

  • COVID-19:  Lessons Learned in Peru: 
    Dr. Patrick Palmieri from Peru discusses the Peruvian COVID-19 pandemic and Lambda Variant. The effects of the Delta Variant are uncertain because of an underdeveloped healthcare system and poor recordkeeping. Similar to what was reported by Dr. Paul Yonga from Kenya corruption was a major barrier https://youtu.be/oTOFJiLYa2Q  . In Peru's case this involved a lack of ventilators and oxygen. There also appeared to be a higher rate of physicians being diagnosed with COVID-19 who are vaccinated. This observation is compounded by questions of the efficacy of the vaccine and some healthcare workers giving fake vaccination shots. Compared to excess death data, the true death rate in Chile was three-fold higher. The difference was created by the Government only counting those deaths which had a positive test in a country with limited testing. This is a situation similar to India. (Dr. Rodrigeus-Bano from Spain also discussed this problem in his presentation https://youtu.be/pWuu10Gg7ro  ). There is very little vaccination hesitancy in Chile. The vaccine rollout was marred by a scandal of the rich and influential receiving the vaccine first. One success is the Peruvian program of vaccinating people in their homes. It is perplexing why vaccines and at home vaccinations are so controversial in the United States. This type of activity should be what public health is all about.  Download Slides 
    View YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/bd5-vkiEdwU

    Reference for Presentation:
    1) Cáceres, C. F., Zavaleta, A., & Gonzáles, G. F. (2021). Peru scandal: Gaps in oversight of COVID vaccine trial. Nature, 592(7856), 685. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-01120-w 
    2) Dyer O. (2021). Covid-19: Peru's official death toll triples to become world's highest. BMJ, 373, n1442. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1442
    3) Kenyon G. (2021). Vacuna-gate escalates in Peru. The Lancet (Infectious Diseases), 21(4), 463. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00157-2
    4) Mega E. R. (2020). Latin America's embrace of an unproven COVID treatment is hindering drug trials. Nature, 586(7830), 481–482. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-02958-2
    5) Taylor L. (2021). Covid-19: Why Peru suffers from one of the highest excess death rates in the world. BMJ, 372, n611. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n611
    6) Taylor L. (2021). Scandal over COVID vaccine trial at Peruvian universities prompts outrage. Nature, 592(7853), 174–175. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-00576-0
     

  • COVID-19: India In Crisis -- Vineeta Gupta, MD, JD
    Dr. Vineeta Gupta describes the conditions in India and the socioeconomic challenges which inhibit the pandemics' control. The impact of the Delta (B1617.2) Variant on India and the United States is also discussed. Health Watch USAsm meeting. June 9, 2021. https://youtu.be/vsOj76yBH9g    https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20210609-Gupta.htm 

  • COVID-19: Infection Control in the Ambulatory Care Setting During a Pandemic.
    Sonja Rivera Saenz, MPH, Infection Control Director at Atrius Health, discusses challenges and strategies regarding the control and prevention of the spread of COVID-19 in the ambulatory care setting. Health Watch USAsm Meeting. May 19, 2021. https://youtu.be/pxiuS3r4eJM  

  • Grief, Morning, Loss and Dying in the Age of COVID-19
    Psychologist Alan Cusher discusses the complexity of dealing with loss and death during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also discusses the different types of loss which the nation is dealing with and how COVID-19 has inhibited our ability to copy and resolve these losses. Health Watch USAsm Meeting. Apr. 21, 2021.  Download Slides   https://youtu.be/99hEmPSN5PI   

  • Dr. Henry Hrdlicka, PhD Discusses Long-Hauler Syndrome.  Dr. Henry Hrdlicka from Gaylord Specialty Healthcare discusses the presentations and pathophysiology of Long Hauler Syndrome. COVID-19 affects many organs of the body including lung, kidney, musculoskeletal, heart, GI and CNS. Anxiety and depression and PTSD are seen in many patients, it is unclear if these psychological symptoms are from a primary effect of the virus or a secondary effect from stress and isolation. Health Watch USAsm meeting Mar. 17, 2021. https://youtu.be/aewNqxWm_Ng    

  • Julie Blake-Griffin, RN Discusses Barriers in Accountability and Patient Safety.
    Julie Blake-Griffin, RN is a national patient advocate who tells her personal story and journey as a patient and nursing advocate. Topics discussed are institutional accountability and whistleblower retaliation. Health Watch USAsm meeting Feb. 17, 2021. https://youtu.be/cy-BADgxfI4  

  • Dr. Regina LaRocque from MGH and Harvard Medical School discusses the impact of COVID-19 on Massachusetts and the problems and drivers of vaccine hesitancy. Health Watch USAsm meeting Jan. 20, 2021. (20:45) https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20210120-HWUSA-LaRocque.htm    https://youtu.be/5glqLCzcZto 

  • COVID-19 Spread: A Role For Air Disinfection
    Edward Nardell, MD is a professor at Harvard Medical School and discusses the safety and efficacy of upper room Germicidal UV (GUV) fixtures and compares them to natural, mechanical ventilation and portable room air cleaners. A historical review is given along with the positive impact GUV fixtures have had dating back to cleaning air in schools during the 1942 measles epidemic. These fixtures can achieve the 6 to 12 complete air exchanges recommended by the CDC for infectious disease pandemics. Health Watch USAsm meeting Dec. 16, 2020. (24:14) Video link  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20211020-HWUSA-Nardell.htm   https://youtu.be/dAJCI0pcVKY  

  • COVID-19 Down Under: The Australian Experience
    Professor Imogen Mitchell, Dean of Medicine at the ANU Medical School, located in Canberra, Australia. Since March of 2020 she has been seconded to become the Clinical Director of the ACT COVID-19 Response. She discusses the COVID-19 Australian Experience. Although federated, Australia formed a national cabinet in March to address the pandemic and implemented a uniform national response. This strategy was advised by the Australian Health Principal Protection Committee. Political leaders implemented strategies which were recommended by public health officials. Strategies of travel bans, fast and hard lockdowns, contact tracing (even the use of apps in restaurants), social distancing and use of masks are discussed. Australia is an example of how public health strategies can efficiently and effectively control a pandemic. If the United States did as well, adjusted for population, the USA would only have 12 to 13 thousand deaths as of Dec. 16, 2020. Health Watch USAsm meeting Dec. 16, 2020.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20201216-HWUSA-Mitchell.htm    https://youtu.be/gtMo4SleRJQ

  • 2020, Nov. 18:  COVID-19: COVID Facility Updates for Public K-12 Schools
    Ken Wertz Executive Director of the Massachusetts Facilities Administrators Association discusses environmental considerations to make facilities safer during the COVID-19 pandemic. The processes of cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing were discussed. The difference between a disinfectant and sanitizer was illustrated with the shift to students eating in classrooms. Before the change, a disinfectant was used to clean classrooms, but after the initiation of this strategy, a safer product, a sanitizer, needed to be used. In addition, pandemic strategies involving heating and air conditioning systems were explained along with the difference between air quality and air flow reports. The latter being of utmost importance in a pandemic. Strategies of air filtration and sanitation using UV Light and bipolar ionization of the air were also discussed. Health Watch USAsm meeting Nov. 19, 2020.  https://youtu.be/GvE9LqxzEKM   

  • 2020, Nov. 18:  COVID-19: Risks and Solutions For Safe School Systems
    Rafael Moure-Eraso, PhD, Massachusetts Teacher Association from Environmental and Safety Committee discusses the roadblocks teachers have encountered in their quest for safe schools along with the importance of proper planning, PPE, social distancing, air quality, and social distancing. Health Watch USAsm meeting.  https://youtu.be/tg5GxodZc3c   

  • 2020, Aug. 19:  COVID-19 Vaccines Primer
    Dr. Henry Chambers from USCF discusses the various types of COVID-19 vaccines along with the approval process, possible challenge studies and accelerated, warp speed, timeline with emphasis on efficacy, effectiveness and safety. Health Watch USA meeting. https://youtu.be/Dhy7YnfmU48 

  • 2020, Mar. 18: Armando Nahum, a nationally renowned patient advocate tells his personal story of how he lost his son to a healthcare acquired infection. He also discusses hospital performance improvement under CMS's partnership for patient program and the importance of patient engagement. https://youtu.be/6bxX_Dy0Stw

  • 2020, Jan. 15:  Jonathan Furman gives a short presentation and update regarding the dangers of quinolone antibiotics. In Kentucky, on average, there is greater than one prescription of quinolone antibiotics per person per year. YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/sU70aIDLWcM

  • 2019, Aug. 21:  Dr. Stephanie Strathdee and Dr. Thomas Patterson present their real life struggle of Dr. Strathdee to save her husband, Dr. Patterson's life from a totally antibiotic resistant bacteria, acinetobacter baumannii. Her search discovered a 100 year old therapy, bacterial viruses or phages. With the help of the Naval Research Department, Texas A & M, University of California at San Diego the treatment was given to her husband who was on the brink of death. And it worked, placing bacterial phages at the forefront of medical research to stop the epidemic of drug resistant bacteria. Now a best selling book "The Perfect Predator"  YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/hTjaG0pi1XM

  • 2019, June 19:  Andrew Jacobs, NYTs reporter on the health and science desk discusses their investigate report on candida auris. The need for greater transparency and the implications of this epidemic. Health Watch USA Meeting. June 19, 2019.  YouTube Video:   https://youtu.be/m6u0N7laf2Y

  • 2019, May 8:   Melissa Clarkson, PhD discusses her recent BMJ commentary regarding the term "Second Victim" and how it is viewed by patients who have suffered medical harm. Health Watch USAsm meeting May 8, 2019.   YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/XURHky2FRd8  

  • 2019, April 17:  Reena Duseja MD, MS, Chief Medical Officer for the Quality Measurement and Value Based Incentives Group, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services discusses CMS's program of quality metrics to promote healthcare quality and consumer choice. https://youtu.be/tOPmdvvEwJY

  • 2018, June 20:  Rosemary Gibson discusses her new book, "China RX: Is Our Drug Supply Safe?", an investigative report into the dependence on China for the provision of crucial medications and the difficulties it creates for FDA oversight and more importantly for national security. YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/K6sqjBoWMm4

  • 2018, May 23:  John Santa, MD, MPH  discusses the research and patient experiences which support the use of Open Notes, an initiative to make doctor patient notes readily accessible to the patient. The initiative was found to create, greater patient trust, satisfaction and engagement in their medical care.
    YouTube Video:
    https://youtu.be/XBYHxIQPD7o

  • 2018, Apr. 18:  Sarah Robinson, PA.  Although there is no existing test to rule out Sarcoma, if caught early without spread, Sarcoma is curative. Do say "NO" to your GYN surgeon who offers you a cosmetic "bikini incision" laproscopic hysterectomy, a surgery which uses the power morcellator tool to grind your uterus into smaller pieces removed from "keyhole" incisions. Your life may depend on it". Health Watch USAsm Meeting April 18, 2018.   View YouTube:  https://youtu.be/UGLeYr_dGEI 

  • 2018, Mar. 21:  Kevin Kavanagh, MD.  Multi-drug Resistant Bacteria - Incidence, Prevelance and Healthcare Transformation.  The presentation discusses the epidemic of multi-drug resistant organisms and their prevention, projected economic impact and patient mortality.  In-depth discussion is given to C. Difficile, CRE and MRSA.  Download PDF of PowerPoint   YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/FoBOjMqR7sU

  • 2018, Jan 22:  David Lind, (Founder of the Heartland Health Research Institute) presents the results of Iowans' views on the reporting and transparency of medical errors. Health Watch USAsm Meeting - Feb. 21, 2018.  View YouTube https://youtu.be/SuMV6pz7jtg 

    2017, Sept. 20:  Kim Witczak gives a perspective on medication safety and the FDA drug and device approval process.
    YouTube URL:  https://youtu.be/nhoCIc-J098 

  • 2017, July 19:  Matthias Maiwald, MD, discusses research integrity problems with research on the efficacy of the antiseptic chlorhexidine. Specific topics relate to incomplete reporting of methodology, errors in data interpretation, clinical equipoise and bias in meta-analyses. Specific attention is given to WHO indications for the surgical antisepsis.  YouTube URL:  https://youtu.be/8YDMQjjnn7g

  • 2017, July 19:  Noel Eldridge, (Senior Advisor AHRQ) presents on national trends of CAUTI infections in the United States during the July 2017 HW USAsm meeting. "There were statistically significant declines in observed bladder catheterization frequency and adjusted CAUTI frequency in some patient populations between 2009 and 2014."    View YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/olZGy1jJ3_Y 

  • 2012 Jun. 21:  Joleen Chambers from FiDA (FAILED Implant Device Alliance) discusses several dangerous medical devices along with the lack of sufficient testing and post-market follow-up.  View YouTube Video https://youtu.be/k1tA3H7i3s0

  • 2017 Apr. 20:  Dr. Neel Shah, MD, MPP, Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School and Director of the Delivery Decisions Initiative at the Ariadne Labs for Health Systems Innovation: Presenting on the wide variation in cesarean section rates across the United States.  YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/EKZw7tP-AKI 

  • 2017, Mar. 15:  Gerald Hickson, MD Senior Vice President for Quality, Safety and Risk Prevention, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, Vanderbilt University, presenting on patient complaints and the early identification of rude surgeons and risks for adverse events and surgical errors. YouTube URL: https://youtu.be/c0UqKxO2-Qg

  • 2017, Feb. 15:  Lisa McGiffert from Consumer Union:  Hospital Accountability and Health Department Engagment.  YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/ly4MzrJCvkw 

  • 2017, Jan. 18: Amanda Rusmisell, The Essure Problems Group and Dangers Associated With the Essure Contraceptive device.   YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/zSVe5MQLTeA 

  • 2016, Jul. 20:  Terrie Morgan-Besecker:  Investigative Reporter Terrie Morgan-Besecker discusses the controversy regarding hospital outpatient facility fees and how they can result in a surprise doubling of the cost of your medical visit.   YouTube Video https://youtu.be/mfvGz7hGFp4 

  • 2016, Jun. 15:  Jim Bailey, MD, MPH:  The End of Healing. "Payment has nothing to do with the quality of results. It is not whether you kill or cure but how you code the claim.   YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/sWaRcKIXvUk 

  • 2016, Mar 23:  Deena McCollum, RN,  presents on the importance of nursing in assuring healthcare quality by telling the story of the death of her father and the lapses in care which he received.   YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/gbA5q4vt3P4 

  • 2016, Feb. 17:  Eili Klein, MD from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy discusses the epidemiology, economics and preventive strategies of antibiotic resistant organisms.  YouTube Video:   https://youtu.be/Wo-OB-d25f0   Download Slides

  • 2016, Jan. 21:  Mark Davis, MD. presents on methods of reducing the exposure to dangerous pathogens such as HIV and Hepatitis C in patients undergoing surgery.   YouTube Video:   https://youtu.be/muFNnUHN4I0  Download Slides  Download Mutual Protection Agreement

  • 2015, Sept. 16:  L. Clifford McDonald, MD.  Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  Prevention and Diagnosis of C. Difficile Infections.  YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/7geB8FQXXt    View Presentation  Download Slides

  • 2015, Aug. 19:  Healthwatch USA Meeting Covering Two Topics:

  • 2015, June 17: Jason C. Pradarelli, MD, MS, Candidate 2016. Perspectives on Surgery Certification, and Credentialing with the Da Vinci Robot. University of Michigan, Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/pmyBZvaSZsg     View Presentation

  • 2015, May 15: Lawrence F Muscarella, PhD.   Prevention of Transmission of the ‘Superbug’ Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) during Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 
    LFM Healthcare Solutions, LLC.
      View Presentation

  • 2015, Feb. 25:  The Bizarre Business Case for Patient Safety
    Michael L. Millenson
    presents a history of the data pointing to hospital costs savings which would be achieved by the promotion of patient safety practices. Despite this hospitals have been slow to adopt these interventions. Prevention of adverse events should not be done because it is in an institution's interest since it is their duty to prevent them. Michael L. Millenson, is a contributor to Forbes Online and on the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Medical Quality.
    You Tube Video:  http://youtu.be/zitRmkL0IhM   Download Slides

  • 2014, Dec. 17:  Reduction of Surgical Infections with MRSA Screening and Decolonization
    James Davis IV, MSN, RN
    from the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority presents the results of a study demonstrating a reduction in surgical site infections with MRSA screening and decolonization using chlorhexidine and mupirocin.   You Tube Video: http://youtu.be/Fj1lBe87hcs    Download Slides
     
    What Nurses Have Taught Us About Ebola -- Kathy Day, RN
    Ebola Congressional Testimony
    by Deborah Burger, RN

  • 2014, Sept. 17:  Jeanine R. Thomas, founder of the MRSA Survivors Network giving her presentation on MRSA Surveillance which Health Watch USAsm consulted on and which she gave at the Sept. 5th, 2014 FDA Staph Workshop.   View Presentation

  • 2014, Aug 20:  Alicia Budd MPH CIC on CMS's Hospital Acquired Condition Reduction Program.  Download Slides

  • Collage of Patients Developing Advanced Stage Cancer from Uterine Morcellation 2014, June 25:  Dr. Hooman Noorchasm and Dr. Amy Reed on the dangers of Uterine Morcellation  (Picture to the right shows a collage of patients who developed advanced stage cancer from uterine morcellation.  Those with a ribbon have died.) :

    • Segment 1:  Hooman Noorchashm MD, PhD on the morcellation disaster: A root cause analysis and personal perspective.  You Tube Video:  http://youtu.be/n6226ic0Mpk 

    • Segment 2:  Amy J. Reed MD, PhD on the morcellation disaster: A physician, patient and mother of six, gives her personal perspective.
      You Tube Video:  http://youtu.be/gIwxfkXGekw   

    • Segment 3:  Dr Noorchashm presents his research and perspective leading to a plan of action to ban the procedure of morcellation and revising the 510K medical device approval process.   You Tube Video:  
        http://youtu.be/Qvg5OXaiEiM 
        

  • 2014, May 21:  Dr. Thomas Valuck from Discern Health, presentation on How Measurement, Incentives, Information an Integration Are Driving Change.  (Dr. Valuck, has served as Senior Advisor and Medical Officer at CMS, where he advised senior agency and Department of Health and Human Services leadership regarding Medicare payment and quality of care, particularly value-based purchasing.  He also has served as Senior Vice President for Strategic Partnerships at the National Quality Forum.) 
    --
    View Presentation

  • 2014, Mar. 19:  Dr. Sumanth Gandra  from the CDDEP on Multidrug Resistant Organisms. 
     -- View Presentation

  • 2014, Feb. 19:  Dr. Steve Tower from Alaska presenting on complications of Metal-on-Metal implants including heavy metal (Cobalt) poisoning.
     -- View Presentation   
    View HD Video

  • 2014,  Jan. 15:  Peter Eisler, Reporter from USA Today, on the Background of His Kentucky MRSA Story. 

  • 2013, Sep. 11:  Dr Shari Ling. Deputy Chief Medical Officer of CMS
     -- Download PDF of PowerPoint Slides

  • 2013, Jul. 31:  Dr Patrick Conway, Chief Medical Officer of CMS
     -- Download PDF of PowerPoint Slides

  • 2013, Jun. 19:  Dr James Battles from AHRQ 
     -- Download PowerPoint Slides

  • 2013, May:  Rosemary Gibson, Author of Medicare Meltdown & Dr Gerald Hickson, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs at Vanderbilt.   Dr. Hickson presented on how patient complaints can predict physician malpractice risk.   
     -- Download Rosemary Gibson's Slides

  • 2011, Apr:  Helen Haskell   Download PDF of PowerPoint  
    Link to Website: 
    http://www.mamemomsonline.org/

  • 2011, May:  Rosemary Gibson on Overutilization of Healthcare  Download PDF of PowerPoint
    Link to Website:  http://www.treatmenttrap.org/ 

Play to Here Presentation:    


View YouTube Presentation:   https://youtu.be/usxAU7uEP3Q

Play to Here Presentation:    

 
 
MRSA Picture

The pictures on the right and left are photomicrographs of
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).