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.
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 USAsm
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
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-d25f0Download Slides
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/pmyBZvaSZsgView 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/zitRmkL0IhMDownload 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/Fj1lBe87hcsDownload 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
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 PresentationView HD Video
2014, Jan. 15: Peter Eisler,
Reporter from USA Today, on the Background of
His Kentucky MRSA Story.
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
2012,
Jan: Michael Bennett: A perspective
on his Father who died of MRSA, the SHEA 2002 Guidelines and the
Book with Honors his father and gives his perspective on forces
that have sent and changed national policy.
Click on Picture to Enlarge "My Father: An American Story of Courage, Shattered Dreams, and
Enduring Love"
Play to Here Presentation:
The pictures on the right and left are photomicrographs of
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).
