While some hospitals are just approaching their peak of treating COVID-19 patients, others are already looking toward the time facilities can start taking in patients—and revenues—for non-emergent patients.

Contaminated bronchoscopes could cause infections among patients and healthcare staff, according to a study recently published in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

The FDA has issued two emergency use authorization (EUA) for sterilizing and reprocessing N95 masks, once in March and once in April. The agency says this “has the potential to decontaminate approximately 4 million N95 or N95-equivalent respirators per day in the U.S. for reuse by health care workers in hospital settings.”

While all the headlines have been (justifiably) about the 2019 novel coronavirus, healthcare providers must keep in mind that it isn’t the sole danger to patients. Missed diagnoses, maternal health complications, and behavioral health problems remain as constant risks to patient safety in the U.S.—even as the world hunkers down in the face of COVID-19.

Remember before the novel coronavirus for 2019? The one that causes COVID-19?

In the middle of the deluge of pandemic news, you may have noticed that The Joint Commission (TJC) updated several of its standards to reflect all the changes—well, almost all—that CMS made under last fall’s burden reduction and discharge planning final rules revising the Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoP).

And they’re in effect as of now, for the most part. (Editor’s note: Sorry we didn’t say anything before—TJC released the revisions right after the April issue went to print.)

Some health systems are offering virtual screening for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

After reaching epidemic proportions in Wuhan, China, in December, COVID-19 has spread to 168 countries or territories, with more than 209,000 confirmed cases and more than 8,700 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. As of March 20, there had been more than 14,000 confirmed cased in the United States, with 218 deaths, Worldometer reported.

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Spectrum Health, which features 15 hospitals and 11 urgent care centers, began free telemedicine screening for COVID-19 last week.

In response to the new coronavirus (COVID-19), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced exceptions and extensions for upcoming measure reporting and data submission deadlines for those clinicians and providers participating in Medicare quality reporting programs.

“In granting these exceptions and extensions, CMS is supporting clinicians fighting coronavirus on the front lines,” says CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “The Trump Administration is cutting bureaucratic red tape so the healthcare delivery system can direct its time and resources toward caring for patients.”