Editor's Note Outpatient surgery leaders looking to the year ahead are planning for challenges on the horizon, as well as those challenges carrying forward. A significant hurdle is to maintain financial stability, according to a November 14 news story in Becker’s ASC Review. One ASC revenue cycle supervisor noted in…

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Editor's Note ASC growth continues to evolve, and over the next decade technology will significantly enable this continued growth, according to experts interviewed in a November 13 news story in Ambulatory Surgery Center News. Specifically, they noted a focus on robotics and AI to support a smooth transition for more…

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Editor's Note Patient safety indicators measured by case mix index and risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality show a return to pre-pandemic improvement trajectories in US hospitals, according to research findings published November 12 in JAMA. These findings come from a retrospective cohort study that looked at encounter-level administrative and financial data from…

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Editor's Note As AI rapidly becomes adopted into healthcare systems, C-suite leaders are front and center to bring technologies into practice. But are they feeling prepared? Not necessarily, according to an HFMA survey report published November 12. The survey findings showed leaders’ AI skills are emerging, especially surrounding AI competency.…

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Editor's Note The leadership mindset required in a rural surgical setting can provide skills to grow efficiency and case volume in all settings, according to insights from a chief nursing officer working at a regional heath hospital in the small city. He shared his insights in a November 12 blog…

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Editor's Note Leaders communicating corporate strategies may be inadvertently using language that is too abstract and lacks the clarity needed for teams to transform strategy into action. Take for example words such as “innovation,” “excellence,” and “agility.” These words can be open to interpretation, or “semantic latitude,” as described by…

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Editor's Note Circadian health plays a role in cardiometabolic disease risk and clinicians should take note of this, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association described in a November 14 news story in JAMA. Circadian disruptions are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a letter on Medicaid funding November 17 with preliminary guidance for states regarding the implementation of new federal requirements on health care-related (provider) taxes in Medicaid. Per the letter, which was described in a news release at CMS.org, the…

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Editor's Note Antibiotic prophylaxis remains an important tool to lower risk of infection. In orthopedic open fracture repair there is high risk of postoperative infection, wound complications, and nonunion. However, providing effective antibiotic coverage to prevent infections must also be balanced with maintaining antibiotic stewardship to minimize resistance and adverse…

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Editor's Note With executive-level turnover and regulatory pressures on the rise, infection preventionists (IPs) should be elevated to executive-level roles to prevent a missed professional opportunity and potential structural weakness in health care governance, according to Deborah Ellis, PhD, MS, MPH, MT(ASCP), CIC, LTC-CIP, CPHQ, FACHE in a November 13…

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