Brett Kelman

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bkelman@kff.org
@BrettKelman

Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Is Killing Patients. Yet There Is a Simple Way to Stop It.

KFF Health News Original

Hospital-acquired pneumonia not tied to ventilators is one of the most common infections that strike within health care facilities. But few hospitals take steps to prevent it, which can be as simple as dutifully brushing patients’ teeth.

Widely Used Hospital Gowns Show Signs of Exposing Workers to Infection

KFF Health News Original

Isolation gowns are supposed to protect health care workers from splattered bodily fluids. But new studies suggest that too much liquid seeps through some disposable gowns, creating a risk of infection.

This Rural, Red Southern County Was a Vaccine Success Story. Not Anymore.

KFF Health News Original

Meigs County in Tennessee reported one of the highest covid-19 vaccination rates in the South for much of the past year. But those reports were wrong because of a data error that has surfaced in other states, such as West Virginia and Montana, as well.

At a Tennessee Crossroads, Two Pharmacies, a Monkey, and Millions of Pills

KFF Health News Original

Prosecutors say opioid-seeking patients drove hours to get their prescriptions filled in Celina, Tennessee, where pharmacies ignored signs of substance misuse and paid cash — or “monkey bucks” — to keep customers coming back.