In this episode, host Jessica Swain talks to Margaret Worth, infection preventionist and quality specialists at Mount Ascutney Hospital and Health Center, and Morgan Kuhnly, infection preventionist at Dartmouth Health, to give updated information on Monkeypox. The team is also joined by Dr. Aalok Khole who is an  infectious diseases physician at Cheshire Medical Center and physician lead for the hospital epidemiology and anti-microbial stewardship program to help anwer common clinical questions around Monkeypox. 

Monkeypox cases are declining nationally which has led to government officials being cautiously optimistic that we can works towards elimination of the virus in the United States. In the meantime, we need to remain vigilant and continue to isolate and vaccinate close contacts of infected individuals which should help end the current outbreak of the disease.  

Looking at health through the lens of political determinants means analysing how different ideological positions, institutions, processes, and interests, affect health within different political systems and cultures and at different levels of governance. 

In this episode, we talk to Matthew Houde, System Vice President of Government Relations at Dartmouth Health, and Courtney Tanner, Director of Government Relations at Dartmouth Health. Matthew and Courtney walks us through political determinants of health, the 2022 executive and legislative activity, and how healthcare staff can engage in this advocacy space 

COVID-19 infection control guidelines continue to evolve as we deal with the increased transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. In this episode, host Jessica Swain talks to Angelica Sindelar, infection preventionist at Dartmouth Health Medical Center, to talk about updates on the infection control guidance from the CDC. These updates helps to enhance protection for healthcare personnel, patients, and visitors and to address concerns about potential impacts on the healthcare system. 

The information shared in this episode is meant for medical education and should not be considered as medical advice

Chest pain is a frequent cause for Emergency Department visits in the United States. In this episode, host Dr. Rima Mercado talks to Dr. Bruce Andrus who is the director of clinical cardiology at Dartmouth Health Medical Center about this common symptom. Dr. Andrus walks us through the most recent guidelines from professional societies like tha American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association and gives his perspective on how we should risk stratify patients presenting with chest pain, weigh cost vs benefits considerartions in diagnostic testing, and approach shared decision making. 

The information shared in this episode is meant for medical education and should not be considered as medical advice 

According to the CDC scientists are curently tracking multiple cases of monkeypox that have been reported in several counties that don't normally report the disease, including the United States. In this episode host Jessica Swain talks to Dr. Elizabeth Talbot, infectious diseases physician at Dartmouth Health and professor of medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine, with hopes to increase awareness and provide knowledge for healthcare providers and patients who experience rash illnesses suspicious for monkeypox. 

The information shared in this episode is meant for medical education and should not be considered as medical advice. 

Just when you think this pandemic is over, it rears it's ugly head again. Host Jessica Swain, System Director of Infection Prevention for Dartmouth Health, talks to Dr. Michael Calderwood about where we are now with COVID-19. Dr. Calderwood is the Chief Quality Officer and an Infectious Diseases physician at Dartmouth Health and he shares his insights on studies shared at the recently concluded Society of Healthcare Epidemiology annual conference. 

We are all experiencing pandemic fatigue but it is important for us to think about what we can do and to understand how it will take each one of us to get through this. Like always, the information shared in this episode is meant for medical education and should not be considered as medical advice 

As we transition into our new normal of living with COVID-19. We envision a state where diagnostic tests and oral medications are readily available for the community with an overall goal of increasing access to life-saving treatments that need to be given quickly to be effective. 

Dr. Rebecca Wang, infectious diseases physician and medical co-director of the comprehensive antimicrobial program, and Craig Worby, infectious disease clinical pharmacist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and co-director of the comprehensive antimicrobic program, walks us through currently available outpatient COVID-19 therapies.

The information shared in this episode is meant for medical education and should not be considered as medical advice. 

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to increase, driven by the Omicron variant making it more important for individuals to keep up-to-date with the most recent public health recommendations. However, keeping up with the ever changing guidelines is not only challenging for some but also confusing and frustrating given the many nuances that come with the changes. 

In this episode, host Jessica Swain, senior infection preventionist at Dartmouth Hitchcock, talks to Dr. Aalok Khole, infectious disease physician at Cheshire Medical Center, to help us navigate through the CDC's updated mask recommendations, & isolation and quarantine guidelines. Dr. Khole also walks us through how to interpret home antigen test results and shares highlights about new therapy against COVID-19 infection. 

The information shared in this episode is meant for medical education and should not be considered as medical advice.

The omicron variant is now the predominantly circulating variant of concern in the United States. It is more transmissible and may have the ability of immune escape. Time will tell if it leads to a more severe disease, but regardless of disease severity, we need to remain vigilant and get the vaccine, get boosted, wear our masks, and wash our hands. These are all additive layers of protection to prevent the spread of infection. 

We are joined by Caitlin Adams Barker who is a senior infection preventionist at Dartmouth Hitchcock. We talk to Caitlin about how we can reduce the likelihood of transmission as we plan to spend time with family through the holidays. Dr. Justin Kim also joins us for this episode. He is the hospital epidemiologist at Dartmouth Hitchcock and he gives us some higlights about the omicron variant and novel therapies for COVID-19. 

The information shared in this episode is meant for medical education and should not be considered as medical advice.

In this episode, We talk to Dr. Susanne Tanski, section chief and vice chair of pediatrics at Dartmouth-Hitchcock about the recently approved Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 years old. She talks to us about the safety and efficay of the vaccines, how to weigh the risks and benefits, and what this means for our kids growth and development. 

The information shared in this episode is meant for medical education and should not be considered as medical advice.