Practice Management
Just as high flu activity has patients and providers on edge, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists(ASHP) is noting a drug shortage of some types of oseltamivir oral capsules and powders. Likewise, GoodRx data through January 20, 2026, shows a peak of oseltamivir fills in the last week of December 2025, followed by a more recent drop, possibly indicating that the medications could be in short supply and/or indicating fewer prescriptions overall. Federal agencies state …
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A retrospective analysis in JAMA Network Open examined trends in maternal syphilis infections in Mississippi from 2013–2023 and found that during the 10-year period, infections increased from 86 cases per 100,000 births to 1,016 cases per 100,000 births. The overall rise was 1,088%. Among the 1,421 pregnant women with syphilis included in the study, gaps in prenatal care were common: 34% lacked first-trimester care and 4.5% received no prenatal care. Analysis showed a sustained average …
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Medical school enrollment is hitting a new high for the 2025-2026 academic year, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. For the first time, total enrollment has topped 100,000 students, and the total number of medical school applicants rose by 5.3%, reversing a 3-year decline. Except for a 1-year increase in 2021-2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the new figures represent the largest gain in a decade, the association says. First-time applicants comprised 76.5% of …
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Some 80 clinicians at Legacy Health recently announced 2-day solidarity strikes to show support for 140 of their coworkers—represented by the Oregon Nurses Association—who are already on an open-ended strike that started on December 2, according to the Oregonian. As of press time, about 50 nurse practitioners and physician assistants at Legacy-GoHealth Urgent Care clinics were committed to a strike during the holiday week as were 30 pediatric advanced practice providers who work at Randall …
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Responding to increasing demand for radiology technologists, ExpressCare Urgent Care Centers in Maryland launched a new Limited X-Ray Machine Operator (LXMO) Program earlier this year and has now graduated its first 9 students. The program offers medical assistants with at least 1 year of experience at ExpressCare or Children’s Urgent Care the opportunity to earn certification and obtain Maryland Board of Physicians registration, according to a press release from LifeBridge Health. After successfully passing a …
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California health officials are warning the public about eating wild mushrooms foraged in parks and backyards following a cluster of mushroom-related poisonings that resulted in 1 adult death and cases of severe liver injury in children. According to the state poison control system, 21 cases of suspected amatoxin exposure—likely linked to death cap mushrooms growing in a local park—have been reported. These highly toxic mushrooms are frequently confused with edible varieties due to their similar …
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According to a survey of 1,015 adults released by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), fewer adults are receiving vaccines for respiratory viruses this year. The study was conducted in November 2025 to evaluate adults’ attitudes and behaviors regarding vaccination for influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and pneumococcal disease in the United States. NFID found that 45% of respondents said they have received at least 1 respiratory vaccine since September 2025, with influenza …
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Recently, Abbott Diabetes Care posted an alert for a subset of its FreeStyle Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensors. Internal testing revealed that some sensors manufactured on a single production line may provide inaccurate, low glucose readings—potentially leading patients to delay or skip necessary insulin doses. The alert affects approximately 3 million sensors in the United States; about half are estimated to have expired or already been used. Globally, Abbott …
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As of December 3, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and several state health authorities have reported a total of 39 suspected or confirmed cases of infant botulism across 18 states, attributed to ByHeart baby formula sold in retail stores. Preliminary testing in California found multiple lots of formula contaminated with Clostridium botulinum type A. The 39 infants have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. Onset of …
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Pertussis Deaths Rise, New PCR Test Receives Approval Three infants in Kentucky have died of pertussis this year, including 1 death last week, according to public health officials. None of the infants or their mothers had been vaccinated. As of November 19, 2025, there have been 566 cases of pertussis in the state with additional cases anticipated by the end of the year. Texas has reported the most activity this year with at least 3,500 …
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