Therapy dogs relieve stress for health care workers; California lab owner sentenced to 9 years for COVID-19 test fraud; new tool 93% accurate in predicting stroke outcome – with Morning Medical Update

Author(s):

Austin Littrell

Key Takeaways

Therapy dogs are being used in hospitals to reduce stress and burnout among healthcare workers, providing emotional support and grounding during traumatic experiences.
A California lab owner was sentenced to nine years for fraudulent COVID-19 test claims, involving $369 million billed to Medicare and private insurers.
Ochsner Health's predictive model for stroke surgery decisions boasts 93% accuracy, using clinical metrics to enhance patient outcomes and align with value-based care initiatives.

The top news stories in medicine today.

Hospital therapy dogs help relieve stress for health care workers

Hospitals are enlisting therapy dogs to support overwhelmed health care workers, combatting rising rates of burnout and stress. At HCA HealthONE Rose Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, specially trained Labradors provide comfort to staff and patients alike. Susan Ryan, an emergency medicine physician who introduced the program to the hospital, says the dogs help keep medical professionals grounded as they deal with trauma and loss. Advocates believe therapy dogs can play a critical role in improving mental health among medical staff, a growing concern as rates of burnout continue to climb.

California lab owner sentenced to 9 years for COVID-19 test fraud

A California laboratory owner was sentenced to nine years in prison for submitting fraudulent claims for unnecessary respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests alongside COVID-19 tests, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Lourdes Navarro, 66, of Glendale, California, and her co-conspirator, Imran Shams, billed approximately $369 million to Medicare and private insurers for medically unwarranted RPP tests, receiving $46.7 million in reimbursements.

Navarro was also ordered to forfeit over $11.6 million and pay $46.7 million in restitution. Shams was sentenced to 10 years in prison in January 2024, and in May he was sentenced to an additional five years for unrelated fraud charges.

New tool improves stroke surgery decisions with 93% accuracy

Researchers at Ochsner Health have developed a predictive model with 93% accuracy in assessing stroke patients’ likelihood of regaining functional independence following urgent carotid intervention. Published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, the tool uses clinical metrics—including stoke severity, frailty risk and intervention timing—to guide surgical decisions. Hernan Bazan, MD, DFSVS, FACS, lead researcher on the study, emphasized the model’s role in enhancing patient health outcomes and aligning with value-based care (VBC) initiatives. By integrating real-time data into clinical workflows, the tool aims to optimize stroke treatment and improve recovery rates.