In the journal PLOS ONE, researchers described how nursing notes could be used as part of models to predict 30-day mortality among patients in intensive care units. The team applied a sentiment analysis algorithm to notes for more than 27,000 patients, finding the notes improved mortality predictions, and the authors say analysis of notes might also improve predictions for recovery from infection or readmission.

Research published in BMJ Quality and Safety found from 50% to 70% of families of ICU patients were reluctant to voice concerns about certain care situations with safety implications. The survey found almost two-thirds of ICU patients and families said they were very comfortable talking with clinicians about medications, while only half felt comfortable asking for clarifications or raising concerns about a potential error.

The FDA is setting up a task force to investigate persistent shortages of some drugs and develop long-term solutions to the problem, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a statement. Doctors are reporting shortages of opioid pain medications, some antibiotics and anesthetics.

Researchers found that adverse event incidence among hospitalized children rose by 1.2% per 1,000 patient days annually between 2007 and 2012. The findings in Pediatrics, based on data involving 3,790 pediatric admissions, also showed that adverse events were significantly more prevalent in teaching hospitals and among youths with chronic illnesses.

The World Telehealth Initiative has begun, and the nonprofit humanitarian group's goal is to expand medical training and widen access to health care services across the world by providing telehealth services and equipment to underserved areas. "Rather than providing episodic support relying on traditional modes of transportation, WTI will enable sustained support by leveraging telehealth to bring clinical expertise to the regions it assists," says Yulun Wang, chairman of the initiative and founder, chairman and chief innovation officer of InTouch Health.

Noonlight is aiming to insert an app into connected home devices that would enable the devices to initiate a call to 9-1-1 through a dedicated call center. Noonlight is partnering with Amazon's Alexa, Google Home, Canary's security camera and others.