Shannon Firth
MedPage Today
Washington, DC, United States
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Past articles by Shannon:
Despite Rising Violence Against Healthcare Workers, Legislative Fixes Have Stalled
During a 3-month period this year, 57 nurses were assaulted on average each day → Read More
CDC Warns on Early Wave of Respiratory Illnesses
Influenza hospitalization rates highest in a decade for this early in the season → Read More
Physician Burnout Continues at Record Levels, One-Third Feel 'Hopeless'
Stigma surrounding seeking care for mental health persists, survey shows → Read More
AMA Acknowledges Voting Is a Social Determinant of Health
Gerrymandering has disenfranchised already vulnerable communities, delegates argue → Read More
Here's How to Keep Nurses From Leaving
Leaders talk money, mentoring, training, and a chance to be heard → Read More
Health Insurance Coverage Stable in 2020, Despite Pandemic
Medicaid expansion states saw half as many uninsured versus non-expansion states → Read More
Why Are There So Few People of Color in Nursing?
The way to improve diversity in nursing is to expand opportunities for leadership, mentorship, and outreach, and to rethink admissions policies, said nurses and academicians during a webinar hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) on Wednesday. The panel discussion was part of a four-part series tied to the release of NASEM's consensus study, "The Future… → Read More
FDA Must Act Quickly on Menthol Ban to Save Black Lives, Advocates Argue
It's more than a public health problem, it's a 'human rights' issue → Read More
AAP Calls for 'Universal Masking' in Schools
Guidance conflicts with CDC advice that vaccinated students can skip indoor face coverings → Read More
J&J COVID-19 Vaccine Is Here. Now Come the Questions
Its unique characteristics pose problems as well as opportunities → Read More
ER Doc Cleavon Gilman 'Fired' for COVID Tweet
Cleavon Gilman, MD, an emergency room physician, working at a hospital in Yuma Arizona tweeted his concern about the lack of available ICU beds on Nov. 22. His tweet was clear-cut: "no more ICU beds in the state of Arizona." Gov. Doug Ducey and the Department of Health said that same day that there were over 100 ICU beds, Gilman said, but when Gilman went to the E.R. he said he wasn't able to… → Read More
What We Know Now About Children's COVID-19 Risks in Schools
The leader of a teacher's union, an infectious disease pediatrician, and an academic researcher discussed whether it's possible for children to safely return to school, during a webcast hosted by the Association of Health Care Journalists on Thursday. Their answer, of course, is it depends. It depends on whether the rate of infection in the community is low enough, whether schools have enacted… → Read More
Doctors Back Away From 'Quick Fix' for Heavy Periods
Concerns raised over improper patient selection, treatment failure → Read More
Women Burned by Quick Fix for Heavy Periods
Tanya Perry was looking for relief from heavy bleeding during her period when her ob/gyn suggested endometrial ablation with the NovaSure device in May 2017. Her doctor told her it would be a quick and easy procedure, and she'd be able to go home the same day. The thin device would be inserted through her cervix into her uterus, and it would burn away her endometrial lining using radiofrequency… → Read More
U.S. Nurses: A Little More Diverse and Grayer
National survey shows small uptick in minority RNs; bigger increase in those over age 50 → Read More
Trump Outlines Medicare Reform Plan
During a signing ceremony that had the aura of a campaign rally, President Donald Trump announced an executive order to "strengthen, defend, and protect Medicare for all of our senior citizens," at a retirement community in Sumter County, Florida, on Thursday afternoon. "As long as I'm president, no one will lay a hand on your Medicare benefits," Trump said. The president said his order would… → Read More
Could First Responders Save More Mass Shooting Victims?
Two years after Las Vegas shooting, 'unfortunate reality' remains that victims die because of treatment delays → Read More
Appeals Court Wrestles Over Fate of Obamacare
Judges question individual mandate's constitutionality and whether rest of ACA can stand without it → Read More
Washington Week: Drugmakers, PBMs Hammered Over High Drug Prices
FDA relaxes alcohol warning for female libido booster Addyi → Read More
Uprooting Sexual Harassment in Medicine
Reporting incidents is all very well, but wouldn't it be better not to have them at all? → Read More