• 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm. 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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 USA^sm 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:

  • David Mayer MD from Medstar Health System presents on Patient Safety
    YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/Rwq3zWEVr2A    Download Slides

  • Mara Rice RN discusses concerns with the CDC NHSN CAUTI metirc
    YouTube:  https://youtu.be/ueVSXmnbuqE    Download 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/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 USA^sm 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 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:    

• 2011, Jun:  Evelyn McKnight on Single Use of Syringes and Needles  Download PDF of PowerPoint
  Link To Website - http://www.honoreform.org/ 

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

• 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).