health care

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul shortened the quarantine period for many essential workers even as infections have surged because of the omicron variant.

New York eases quarantine rules for essential workers as omicron hits key industries

11:03pm December 24, 2021

by Brian Mann

The number of new COVID cases in New York doubled in just three days. State officials say the impact of the winter omicron surge on the workforce is already being felt.

Nurses remain under pressure as the U.S. faces another COVID winter.

Health & Safety

3 nurses give their inside story on how omicron is affecting the country

11:39am December 24, 2021

Here's how their hospitals are doing nearly two years into the pandemic, what they are seeing in new omicron patients, and their thoughts on the wave of burnout affecting the industry.

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"I use the word 'doom,' " T.J. Abraham said of his fear that he has CTE from past head injuries, "because I feel like there's no easy way out of this and there's no good outcome."

Everyday people fear they have CTE. A dubious market has sprung up to treat them

4:39pm December 23, 2021

by Sacha Pfeiffer

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) goes far beyond the NFL. Everyday men and women worry they have the fatal disease, and they've turned to questionable brain products for help.

Experts say Biden's plan to help hospitals deal with COVID surge isn't enough

5:07pm December 22, 2021

by Will Stone

President Biden has rolled out a plan to help hospitals deal with omicron and the expected surge of patients. Experts say the support is welcome, but still doesn't go far enough.

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Baby Dorian Bennett arrived two months early and needed neonatal intensive care. Despite having insurance, mom Bisi Bennett and her husband faced a bill of more than $550,000 and were offered an installment payment plan of $45,843 per month for 12 months.

Health & Safety

A hospital offered a payment plan for baby's NICU stay — $45,843 a month for a year

12:24pm December 21, 2021

by Victoria Knight

After baby Dorian Bennett arrived two months early and spent more than 50 days in the neonatal ICU, his parents received a bill of more than $550,000 — despite having health insurance.

Health & Safety

Hospitals are still reeling from delta as omicron cases start to multiply

8:25am December 19, 2021

by Will Stone

U.S. hospitals have a heads-up on omicron, but that doesn't mean they feel ready to deal with what could be a huge wave of patients infected by the new variant of COVID-19.

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Longmont United Hospital nurse Brooke Schroeder holds a sign supporting nurses December 2, 2021. Nurses say the hospital is severely understaffed and they're trying to form a union.

Facing a new flood of COVID patients, Colorado nurses say the stress is unsustainable

3:06pm December 15, 2021

by John Daley

As unvaccinated COVID-19 patients fill ICU and acute care beds in Colorado, patients with other ailments are being turned away, and health care workers are reaching a new breaking point.

A person wearing a face covering walks past a white flag memorial installation outside Griffith Observatory honoring the nearly 27,000 Los Angeles County residents who have died from COVID-19 on Nov. 18 in Los Angeles, Calif.

800,000 Americans have died of COVID. Now the U.S. braces for an omicron-fueled spike

8:09pm December 14, 2021

by Bill Chappell

The U.S. also surpassed 50 million COVID-19 cases, the most in the world. Two experts who raised early warnings discuss how the losses continue to deepen, despite the arrival of vaccines a year ago.

Struggling hospitals brace for another wave of COVID brought by the omicron variant

5:00pm December 14, 2021

by Will Stone

Many U.S. hospitals are already struggling with a wave of COVID-19 patients and now they are also racing to prepare for the omicron variant, which threatens to further accelerate hospitalizations.

Nurse Sandra Lindsay, the first person in the U.S. to get the COVID-19 shot, serves as grand marshal of the Hometown Heroes Parade in New York City in July. The event honored essential pandemic workers.

Health & Safety

Sandra Lindsay got the first U.S. COVID jab. Here's her secret to motivate others

11:10am December 13, 2021

by Allison Aubrey

Since Lindsay rolled up her sleeve to get vaccinated a year ago, she has devoted herself to motivating others, especially those who are hesitant, to get vaccinated. She shares five persuasive tips.