Becker's ASC Review

101 HEALTHCARE NEWS 101 Brain fog may last for 2 years after COVID-19, study finds By Mackenzie Bean B rain fog and other neurological issues may linger for two years aer a COVID-19 diagnosis, according to a study published Aug. 17 in e Lancet Psychiatry. Researchers at the University of Oxford in the U.K. analyzed health records from more than 1.4 million people, mostly from the U.S., who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between Jan. 20, 2020, and April 13, 2022. Researchers compared their outcomes to those of an equal number of patients with other respiratory infections. Risk for psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression initially jumped for adults with COVID-19 but fell to rates seen among the control group aer two months. However, two years aer their infection, people with COVID-19 still had an elevated risk of brain fog, dementia, psychotic disorders and epilepsy compared to the control group. "ese findings are relevant for policymakers involved in anticipating and addressing the health burden of the pandemic, for researchers seeking to identify the mechanisms underpinning brain sequelae of COVID-19, and for patients and clinicians wishing to know the neurological and psychiatric risks following SARS-CoV-2 infections," researchers said. n What happens when physicians retire early? By Riz Hatton R etiring physicians is one factor that has been associated with the decreasing number of practicing physicians, but what is causing physicians to retire in the first place? The COVID-19 pandemic caused a slight increase in physician retirements, but it is not the only factor. For example, in Doximity's "2021 Physician Compensation Report," 22 percent of physicians reported considering early retirement because of overwork. As more physicians retire, it will be increasingly difficult for healthcare to keep up with patient demand. "Patients will have fewer options as physicians will choose to retire earlier or close practices in areas or regions where there is an unfavorable payer mix," Matt Mazurek, MD, assistant professor of clinical anesthesiology at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., told Becker's on July 19. Employment for physicians and surgeons is projected to grow about 3 percent between 2020 and 2030 — a rate slower than the national average of 8 percent. Some specialities, including anesthesiologists — gastroenterologists — OB-GYNs and general pediatric doctors, are expected to see a job loss of 1 percent to 2 percent. Although more than 33 percent of physicians who participated in a recent survey from Physicians Thrive expressed a desire to retire in the next year, some may be forced to pump the brakes on their retirement plans as the economy becomes more uncertain. U.S. inflation hit its highest rate in 40 years in June. The state of the economy also has pushed people older than 55 back into the workforce, and physicians could be among them, according to an April report by The Wall Street Journal. n Kaiser plans $1.7B expansion By Ayla Ellison O akland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente is expanding two hospitals and building two new medical offices, according to an Aug. 16 report from The Press Enterprise. Kaiser is expanding Riverside (Calif.) Medical Center and making upgrades to patient rooms. The project will increase the hospital's beds from 226 to 298, a Kaiser spokesperson told The Press-Enterprise. The project, which will cost an estimated $735.4 million, is expected to be finished in the first quarter of 2027. The health system is expanding Moreno Valley (Calif.) Medical Center by 93,000 square feet. The project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2023 and will cost an estimated $250.2 million, according to the report. Kaiser is also building medical offices. One is being built in Murrieta, Calif., and the other will be in Wildomar, Calif. The projects will cost a combined $241.3 million. The health system plans to spend $473.1 million on upgrades to other Kaiser facilities in Riverside County, according to the report. "Our community is growing and Kaiser Permanente is growing with it through $1.7 billion in expansion projects at four locations across Riverside County," said Sammy Totah, PharmD, senior vice president and area manager of Kaiser Permanente Riverside, according to the report. n

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