Here are seven updates:
Canadian hospital says improperly cleaned endoscope affected 104 patients
Canada-based Prince Rupert Regional Hospital admitted it used an improperly cleaned endoscope from April until the end of June 2016 at five different ear, nose and throat clinics affecting 104 patients. The hospital sent a letter earlier this month to the affected patients. However, Northern Health, the medical system Prince Rupert is part of, said officials were cleaning the endoscope, but used the wrong solution.
Mylan to offer $300 generic to EpiPen auto-injector in effort to save face
Pharmaceutical company Mylan has faced heat after news broke about the company increasing EpiPen's price by more than 450 percent since 2004, prompting the company to offer a generic product. In 2008, EpiPen cost nearly $100, with the drug's current list price totaling $600. Mylan is launching an EpiPen generic alterative in the coming weeks with a $300 list price.
ACA enrollment hits 11.1M Americans, falls 12.9M short of CBO predictions
In February 2013, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that 24 million Americans would purchase coverage through the Affordable Care Act federal and state exchanges by 2016. However, 11.1 million people were signed up on the exchanges as of March 2016.
Physicians overestimate treatments' benefits 79% of the time
A JAMA Internal Medicine study found physicians overestimate treatments' benefits nearly 79 percent of the time and overestimate treatments' harms 66 percent of the time. The study authors concluded the results show physicians need improved training in numeracy and communication skills.
Digital healthcare market to increase at 15.05% CAGR by 2021
From 2011 to 2015, the digital healthcare market increased at a compound annual growth rate of 13.21 percent. The market is anticipated to increase at a 15.05 percent CAGR from 2016 to 2021.
Zika projected to strike these 8 states, next
Biostatisticians predict 395 non-travel Zika infections will strike Florida before summer draws to a close and a slew of southeastern states will also see their fair share of Zika infections. The eight states where Zika will likely hit, next, include: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas.
This ingredient may put patients at a higher infection risk from contaminated scopes
Researchers uncovered the ingredient, infant gas relief drops, may be leading to scope contamination. Investigators found white fluid inside various colonoscopies and gastroscopes after they had been disinfected and determined ready for use. Based on these findings, researchers advise providers to try avoiding these products until they can conduct more researchers on the drops' impact on patient safety.
More healthcare news:
Outpatient total hip replacement in ASCs lowers costs: 4 study insights
Who is Hillary Clinton's personal physician, Dr. Lisa Bardack?: 5 things to know
Obama administration proposes rule to change risk-corridor program after payers' exits threaten ACA marketplace: 4 thoughts