> Arizona-based Banner Health mandates flu shots for all employees, volunteers and medical students, The Coloradoan reported. During flu season, employees who are not vaccinated must wear surgical masks when in front of patients. Article
> Super-users of emergency departments in New York City are often seeking care for behavioral health conditions, according to a new report from the United Hospital Fund. Most of the ED super-users are minorities, aged 40 to 64 and safety-net patients. Study (.pdf)
> The annual cost of chronic pain goes as high as $635 billion a year, health economists from Johns Hopkins University wrote in The Journal of Pain. Statement
> Accidentally leaving a swab inside a patient's body is common, occurring in 1 in every 1,500 abdominal procedures, according to an article published by the BMJ Group. In California, foreign objects left in surgical patients recently led to hefty patient safety fines. Article
And Finally… Not surprised this wasn't a big seller. Article