1. US COVID deaths hit 6-month high & 7 other updates Full story

2. National union blames hospitals for staffing crisis; hospitals point to pandemic challenges  Full story

3. 25 infected in COVID-19 outbreaks at 2 Virginia Mason hospitals Full story

4. Reduce waste, save lives: Join hospital and payer leaders for Becker's virtual precision health summit. Register now

5. Physicians prescribing ivermectin for COVID-19 despite FDA warning Full story

6. Staff shortages riskier than unvaccinated workers, hospital CEOs say Full story

7. Traditional pain management programs aren't working. Here's the new approach hospitals are taking to prevent chronic opioid use. 

8. Erlanger, CHI Memorial, Parkridge to limit who gets COVID-19 tests in ER Full story

9. Hospitals scramble to hire workers: Snapshots from 5 states Full story

10. COVID-19 symptoms can last 1 year, study in China suggests Full story

11. Success stories + common pitfalls: How to actually reduce readmissions 

12. 22 recent hospital, health system executive moves Full story

13. 5 pharmacy execs respond to vaccinated patients' worries they're no longer protected against COVID-19  Full story

14. Daily COVID-19 stats, state-by-state:

• Test positivity rates 
• Vaccines administered
• Percentage of population vaccinated 
• Hospitalizations
• Death rates
   

Becker's Learning Opportunities

1. Physician payment is complicated. Here's how your hospital can simplify the process.

2. Take the headaches out of OR scheduling. Learn how to streamline the process in this 5-page guide.

3. Your ED probably has misconceptions about how to treat behavioral health conditions. Here's how Amita Health + CommonSpirit Health improved their approach.