Most Clicked ANA SmartBrief Stories
1. 10 foods contribute to excess sodium intake, CDC reports
ANA SmartBrief | Feb 08, 2012
An estimated 90% of Americans consume too much sodium daily, CDC researchers wrote in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. They found that bread ranked first among the 10 foods responsible for 44% of all the salt intake, followed by luncheon meats and pizza. Reducing consumption of these 10 foods by 25% would cut the amount of dietary salt intake by 10% and could prevent up to 28,000 deaths a year, CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden said in a news release. WebMD (02/07)
2. Most providers don't follow ovarian cancer screening guidelines
ANA SmartBrief | Feb 08, 2012
A survey of more than 1,000 primary care providers in the U.S. showed that 65% of them believe that ovarian cancer screening is effective and would "sometimes" or "almost always" offer or order women at medium risk for ovarian cancer to undergo screening despite expert guidelines and opposing scientific evidence. Twenty-nine percent of providers, meanwhile, would offer or order ovarian cancer screening for low-risk women. The findings appeared in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Reuters (02/06)
3. Practice alert targets aspiration prevention in critical care
ANA SmartBrief | Feb 10, 2012
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses issued a practice alert focusing on aspiration prevention in critically ill patients. Since these patients may experience micro-aspirations, they are at greater risk for developing pneumonia and other complications, the group said. A list of preventive measures includes elevating the head of the bed 30 to 45 degrees, assessing feeding tube placement every four hours and using sedatives as sparingly as possible. Nurse.com (02/09)
4. Experts release guidelines for VTE prevention in nonsurgical patients
ANA SmartBrief | Feb 13, 2012
A group of experts issued evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism in nonsurgical patients, including hospitalized patients, chronically immobilized people, long-distance travelers, outpatients with cancer and people with asymptomatic thrombophilia. Treatment should vary based on the risk of thrombosis for acutely ill hospitalized patients, researchers said in the guidelines, which appear in a supplement to the journal Chest. PhysiciansBriefing.com (02/09)
5. Midwives lower health risks associated with home birth
ANA SmartBrief | Feb 13, 2012
An analysis found that babies born at home were at greater risk for neonatal seizure and low Apgar scores at five minutes after birth. With the presence of a certified midwife, however, babies born at home did as well as in hospitals. Home births' overall association with increased risks may be attributed to a lack of monitoring, researcher Dr. Yvonne Cheng said. The study was presented at a Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine meeting. MyHealthNewsDaily.com (02/10)
6. HHS offers $40M in grants to reduce preterm births
ANA SmartBrief | Feb 09, 2012
HHS announced Wednesday it will provide more than $40 million in funding for the Strong Start program, which aims to cut the growing number of preterm births in the country. "The Strong Start initiative will help give expectant mothers the care they need for a healthy delivery and a healthy baby," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said. The grants will go to providers that offer prenatal care to Medicaid patients. CNN/The Chart blog (02/08) Nurse.com (02/08)
7. Hospitals use treatment guidelines to reduce readmissions
ANA SmartBrief | Feb 10, 2012
Hospitals are developing diagnosis- and procedure-based treatment guidelines aimed at reducing readmissions as Medicare readies a new payment model that will penalize facilities with high readmission rates. Patient care coordination, improved discharge procedures and home monitoring are part of many hospital programs. HealthLeaders Media (02/08)
8. Obama budget will include Medicare, Medicaid cuts
ANA SmartBrief | Feb 09, 2012
President Barack Obama's proposed fiscal 2013 budget will reduce federal health care spending through increased premiums and deductibles for some Medicare enrollees and lower payments to drugmakers, nursing homes and hospitals. Wall Street Journal, The (02/07)
9. Knee replacement surgeries more than double in 10 years
ANA SmartBrief | Feb 13, 2012
The rate of knee replacement procedures has doubled in the past decade, and more than 4.5 million people in the U.S. have had the surgery, according to a study presented at a meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Researchers reported that 4.7% of adults 50 and older have had the surgery compared with 10% of those age 80 and older, but the greatest increase in procedures occurred among younger adults. Osteoarthritis was the primary reason for the surgery. Los Angeles Times (02/10)
10. Latest issue of American Nurse Today will soon be delivered to your e-mail inbox
ANA SmartBrief | Feb 09, 2012
Did you know that the electronic issues of your journal contain NEW, original, peer-reviewed, clinical, practical articles? Same high quality -- great NEW topics -- PLUS late breaking news from ANA and other trusted news sources from around the country! Look for the latest issue soon! Take a look at December's issue.
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