CHOP announces plans to open new inpatient hospital
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia announced Tuesday that it will open a new 250,000-square foot inpatient hospital in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
The facility will be adjacent to an urgent care center and specialty care and surgical center that CHOP already operates in King of Prussia, according to the announcement. The new hospital will have 52 patient beds, including a 16-bed intensive care unit, comprehensive radiology care, a 20-bay emergency room and a four-room operating suite.
"Today's announcement marks a recognition of the ever-growing demand for world-class pediatric care close to home," CHOP CEO Madeline Bell said. "CHOP's new inpatient hospital will serve families living everywhere from the Philadelphia suburbs, to south and central New Jersey, as well as Delaware, to Lancaster, Berks and Lehigh Counties and beyond." (Announcement)
RAND study: 'Risky' opioid prescriptions link to more overdose deaths
Researchers at RAND Corporation have identified six types of 'risky' opioid prescriptions that can lead to more fatal overdoses and other deaths.
The situations flagged in the study are:
- Opioids prescribed at a high dose
- Opioids prescribed alongside benzodiazepines
- Opioids prescribed to one person by four or more prescribers in one year
- Opioid prescriptions filled at four different pharmacies
- Opioids purchased with cash three or more times over the course of three months
- Opioids prescribed to patients who don't have a pain diagnosis
The study, which was based on Massachusetts prescribing data, found that half of adults in the state were prescribed an opioid at least once between 2011 and 2015, and that in 11% of cases those prescriptions were considered risky.
High-dose prescriptions and prescriptions without a pain diagnosis had the strongest link to mortality risk overall, according to the study, and all of the 'risky' situations aside from paying with cash were linked to high risk of fatal overdose. (Study)
NIH cancels alcohol study amid controversy
The National Institutes of Health has canceled a planned alcohol trial amid controversy over its funding.
Senior leaders at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism actively sought funding from the alcohol industry to fund the research, which was intended to dive into whether or not moderate alcohol consumption can reduce a patient's risk of cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
NIH Director Francis Collins, M.D., said the actions were "way outside of the acceptable culture of our noble institution." (Science)