A recent article in Endoscopy International raises the question, “Should the endoscopist be considered and trained like an athlete?” Although those outside the field of endoscopy might not immediately see the connection, because of the physical nature of a gastroenterologist’s job, the issue is an important one. And given the fact that one out of every two endoscopy staff will eventually suffer a work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) injury, the same question should be asked of nurses and nursing assistants.

The 2018 list of top 10 health technology hazards ranks the "failure to consistently and effectively reprocess flexible endoscopes" as #2. It may seem surprising, but when scopes are not thoroughly cleaned, dried, and stored, they can harbor Pseudomonas (associated with sepsis), salmonella, E. coli, and worse. These microorganisms can then be passed to patients undergoing an endoscopic procedure, like a colonoscopy, and to staff handling the scopes before, during, and after the case.

To attract and retain employees, some businesses offer perks ranging from on-site yoga to monthly karaoke parties. But once the novelty of these benefits wears off, do they really boost morale? Do employees really feel that the company understands their needs? Are the investments genuine? While some employees do appreciate such services, most would rather know that that their organization truly cares about them as individuals.

For years the American Medical Association has urged individuals to assess their risk for pre-diabetes; by being aware of their status or this pervasive disease, they can head off problems before they become serious. And the AMA does not stop there. It urges employers to encourage their workers to complete the health assessment, asserting that diabetes prevention is “good for business.”

Employment of registered nurses is expected to increase 15% from 2016 to 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a far faster rate than for any other occupation. The growth will likely be driven by a variety of factors, including the rising number of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, and demand for healthcare services from the baby boom population, who are living longer than previous generations. In the field of endoscopy specifically, RNs will see a job growth rate of 26% by 2022.

Note to readers: This is an update of the July 6, 2018 post on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Safe Patient Handling app; it includes information about new or improved features and functions.

This week, the Colon Cancer Coalition hosted a Twitter chat on an important topic—colorectal cancer.