All articles tagged with #healthcare workers
Nurses at Mount Sinai Health System and Montefiore Medical Center in New York City reached a tentative agreement to end their month-long strike, covering about 10,500 workers with roughly a 12% pay raise over three years, while the strike at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia hospital continues.
WHO reports two laboratory-confirmed Nipah virus infections among healthcare workers in Barasat, West Bengal, India; one patient remained critically ill while the other improved, over 190 contacts tested negative, and no additional cases have been detected as investigations into the exposure continue; enhanced IPC and surveillance are in place, with WHO noting low public health risk at national/global levels and no licensed vaccines or treatments for Nipah.
NEON employees have gone nearly a month without pay and health insurance due to financial difficulties and delayed federal funding, causing significant hardship for staff who continue to serve patients despite their personal struggles, with the organization working to secure funds and avoid court-ordered receivership.
The article emphasizes the importance of vaccinating healthcare workers under 65 against Covid-19 to protect both staff and patients, reduce transmission, and prevent healthcare system overload, advocating for ACIP to endorse universal vaccination for this group amid ongoing challenges and barriers.
Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers across multiple states are set to strike for five days starting October 14, due to unresolved contract negotiations focusing on staffing, wages, and benefits. The strike involves union members representing 62,000 employees, with some hospitals remaining open but shifting to virtual care for some services. Kaiser has offered wage increases and improved benefits, but union members feel their concerns are not adequately addressed. The company is preparing for the strike by onboarding additional staff and reassigning volunteers.
Over 8,600 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers represented by USW Local 7600 have issued a 10-day notice of intent to strike starting October 14 if their demands for safe staffing, patient safety protections, and fair wages are not met, following unresolved contract negotiations.
A union representing 30,000 healthcare professionals at Kaiser Permanente has authorized a strike due to unresolved staffing and pay issues, criticizing the organization's stagnant wages and large financial reserves, and highlighting the broader national movement among healthcare workers for better conditions.
Long COVID is significantly affecting healthcare workers, with many experiencing prolonged symptoms that impair their ability to work, leading to physical, mental, and occupational challenges, and highlighting the need for better support and research.
Former CDC leaders criticize RFK Jr for policies they say endanger public health, including vaccine restrictions and firing healthcare staff, raising concerns about increased disease risk and undermining scientific efforts.
An Israeli airstrike in Gaza has killed senior doctor Dr. Marwan al-Sultan and numerous other healthcare workers, highlighting a devastating toll on Gaza's medical system amid ongoing conflict, with over 1,400 healthcare workers killed since October 2023 and many detained by Israeli forces.
The FTC's new rule banning noncompete agreements in employment contracts is welcomed by many healthcare workers but may not protect those employed by nonprofit hospitals, which make up a significant portion of the healthcare sector. The rule aims to enhance worker mobility and reduce healthcare costs but faces legal challenges and concerns about its impact on labor competition and costs.
Doctors Without Borders pediatrician Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan accused the Israeli Defence Forces of targeting healthcare workers and executing doctors "point blank" during the operation at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, which left the facilities completely out of service. The IDF claimed to have killed "terrorists" and detained hundreds, alleging Hamas had used the hospital as a base, while Hamas denied this and accused the IDF of killing hundreds of Palestinians, including healthcare workers. Dr. Haj-Hassan emphasized the systematic targeting of healthcare workers and the destruction of hospitals, refuting the IDF's claim of protecting civilians and calling it an insult to humanity.
Pediatrician Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan describes the devastating conditions in Gaza, where the health sector has been decimated, leaving only two minimally functional hospitals. She recounts the overwhelming challenges faced by healthcare workers, including shortages of basic medical supplies and the emotional toll of treating children with horrific injuries. Dr. Haj-Hassan emphasizes the man-made nature of the crisis and calls for an end to the ongoing massacre, expressing shame at the failure of humanity to address the situation.
Healthcare workers and experts fear that the CDC's revisiting of guidelines on airborne transmission may prioritize profits over protection, as it did in the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic. Concerns stem from the CDC's initial advice against widespread use of N95 masks and its current draft guidelines that may leave room for unsafe decisions on protection against airborne infections. Critics worry that if the final guidelines don't emphasize the need for N95 masks and ventilation, it could lead to shortages and inadequate protection for healthcare workers in future health emergencies.
The CDC has issued a notice to healthcare providers after over 150 reports of the wrong RSV vaccinations being given to pregnant women and children. The mix-up involved pregnant women receiving the GSK vaccine, Arexvy, instead of the approved maternal RSV vaccine abrysvo. This error could potentially impact the protection of babies, as the correct vaccine is crucial for passing immunity on through pregnancy. The CDC has emphasized the importance of educating clinicians to prevent such mix-ups in the future.