4 minute read

HUDDLE

Good Morning, Readers!

Have you heard about the tuition-free nursing program being offered at WVU in exchange for a three-year work commitment post-graduation? What are your thoughts on programs like this? Is a three-year commitment too long? Let me know here.

Today's Top Beats

🩺 Insurers Scamming Medicare?
📚 Nursing School Closure

⚖️ Law and Healthcare

HANDOFF

Are Insurers Scamming Medicare? 

Insurers are using nurse-conducted home visits to Medicare recipients to make questionable diagnoses that allow them to collect billions in extra payments from the federal government, a Wall Street Journal investigation found. Nurses often felt pressured to add conditions like peripheral artery disease—using unreliable and questionable tests—that would increase payments. This practice has raised concerns about the ethical integrity of the Medicare Advantage system. Check out this PBS video to learn more about the issue of Medicare Advantage fraud. 

Theranos Is Back…Sort of

Remember Theranos, the fraudulent startup that promised to deliver a finger-prick blood test? Companies like Becton Dickinson and Babson Diagnostics are now picking up where Theranos left off, this time using conventional lab equipment to ensure accuracy rather than Theranos’ proprietary tech. The companies claim clinical studies show the new tests’ results are comparable to standard venous tests and plan to publish their findings in medical journals. 

125-Year-Old Nursing School to Close

Sharon Regional Medical Center’s 125-year-old nursing school is shutting down after the current class graduates in May 2025. Sharon is part of Steward Health Care and the school closure is an unfortunate casualty of Steward’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Meadville Medical Center is working to establish a new nursing school to fill the gap. Steward is looking to sell all of its hospitals and physician group (Stewardship Health), and it has recently announced it’s laying off some 1200 employees as it closes two hospitals.

TODAY'S TOP VITAL

1.2 Million

The number of polio vaccines the WHO is sending to Gaza after the virus was detected in wastewater. Click here to learn how many children are being targeted for the vaccination and the logistical challenges the WHO faces in delivering the vaccines to those who need it.

PRN

MYSTERY Dx MINUTE WITH NURSE KEL

Mystery Diagnosis Minute

Welcome back for another round of the Mystery Diagnosis Minute. Since we’ve just finished up another amazing summer Olympics, I thought we might look at a diagnosis that plagued many of the Olympians in Paris.

🥇Symptoms of this infection usually start about three or four days after someone has been exposed to the bacteria, however, it symptoms could start as early as one day or as late as one week.

🥈The symptoms include diarrhea which is usually watery, but in severe cases, bloody diarrhea is present.

🥉Stomach pain with cramps, nausea, and vomiting all round out the symptomatology of being infected with this bacteria.

Think you know the answer? Click here to find out!

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TODAY IN THE CHART

SUPPLY ROOM

Stay Organized 

This clear pouch can be personalized with your title/name and comes in a ton of different color options. Bonus: It includes a cute stethoscope pin!

BREAK ROOM

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

Did you know that your emotions can affect the function and shape of your heart? Watch this heart specialist’s TEDtalk on how this happens and what you can do to keep your heart healthy.

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS

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