Nearly half of US physicians now work for large systems: GAO links consolidation to higher costs
Editor's Note Physician independence continues to decline as hospitals, insurers, and private equity firms expand their ownership of medical practices, according to a US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report published on September 22. The report found that 47% of physicians were employed by or affiliated with hospital systems in 2024,…
Sustainable surgery can cut costs, reduce emissions, improve care, review finds
Editor's Note Surgical teams can dramatically reduce healthcare’s carbon footprint through waste reduction, energy efficiency, and smarter procurement, Cureus October 7 reports. The review’s authors describe surgery as both a major environmental challenge and a key opportunity for hospitals to align climate responsibility with clinical and financial goals. Healthcare contributes…
Study: Surgical hospital closures hit vulnerable communities hardest
Editor's Note Hospitals that provide surgical care are closing faster than new ones are opening, deepening inequities in access to surgery for socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, American College of Surgeons October 3 reports. Closures not only disrupt care, but also deter many from seeking surgery altogether. Increased travel burdens and difficulty…
Federal pushback on CHAI exposes rifts over who should set healthcare AI rules
Editor's Note Federal officials’ public rebuke of the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) highlights mounting tensions over who should shape guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, Modern Healthcare October 10 reports. As hospitals accelerate AI adoption, industry leaders, regulators, and developers are clashing over how to ensure the technology’s…
High prices, not overuse, keep US healthcare costs far above peer nations
Editor's Note The US continues to outspend every other wealthy nation on healthcare, not because Americans use more services but because the prices of those services are far higher, Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker September 4 reports. The analysis compares US healthcare prices and utilization with 11 similarly wealthy countries and…
Children’s Health Dallas takes top national spot in pediatric ortho surgery as US News names 2025–26 ‘Best Children’s Hospitals’
Editor's Note Children’s Health in Dallas leads the nation in pediatric orthopedic surgery, after the US News & World Report 2025–2026 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings showcased familiar national leaders across a range of pediatric specialties, D Magazine and Fierce Healthcare October 7 report. The latest results highlight continued excellence in…
FDA issues Class I alert for Abiomed Impella heart device over cybersecurity risks
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 10 classified a cybersecurity correction involving Abiomed’s Automated Impella Controller as a Class I recall, the most serious type, according to the FDA Medical Device Recalls and Early Alerts database. While devices are not being removed from clinical settings, the…
Study finds Medicare paid nearly $2 billion for unnecessary back surgeries
Editor's Note More than 200,000 older Americans underwent back surgeries they likely did need, costing Medicare and Medicare Advantage a combined $1.9 billion, Axios October 9 reports. The findings, based on an analysis by the Lown Institute, raise new concerns about overuse of high-cost procedures with limited benefit, as federal…
FDA accelerates medical device safety alerts to reach public within days
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded its early alert recall program to include all medical devices, speeding up how quickly the public learns about high-risk safety issues, Modern Healthcare October 9 reports. The initiative allows the FDA to post early alerts within days of manufacturers notifying…
California’s worsening nurse shortage fuels burnout, safety concerns amid management tensions
Editor's Note The nursing shortage in California is deepening, with RN vacancies projected to grow from 3.7% in 2024 to 16.7% by 2033, HealthLeaders and KFF Health News October 8 report. The researchers cite inadequate training and retention pipelines, while nurses on the front lines say mismanagement, understaffing, and profit…
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- Nearly half of US physicians now work for large systems: GAO links consolidation to higher costs
- Sustainable surgery can cut costs, reduce emissions, improve care, review finds
- Study: Surgical hospital closures hit vulnerable communities hardest
- Federal pushback on CHAI exposes rifts over who should set healthcare AI rules
- High prices, not overuse, keep US healthcare costs far above peer nations
- Children’s Health Dallas takes top national spot in pediatric ortho surgery as US News names 2025–26 ‘Best Children’s Hospitals’
- FDA issues Class I alert for Abiomed Impella heart device over cybersecurity risks
- Study finds Medicare paid nearly $2 billion for unnecessary back surgeries
- FDA accelerates medical device safety alerts to reach public within days
- California’s worsening nurse shortage fuels burnout, safety concerns amid management tensions