Study: Preoperative behavioral health evaluations improve orthopedic recovery
Editor's Note Meeting with a health behavior psychologist before orthopedic surgery can help patients identify and overcome barriers to recovery, leading to better surgical outcomes, according to a University of Missouri School of Medicine July 31 news article covering a study published in the Journal of Knee Surgery. The study…
2026 ICD-10 updates bring hundreds of new codes, new complexity
Editor's Note Healthcare providers, payers, and analytics teams face sweeping ICD-10 changes this fall, with the 2026 code updates taking effect October 1, 2025, Wolters Kluwer July 14 reports. The release includes 614 new codes, 12 invalidations, 642 billability changes, 88 terminology revisions, and the creation of an entirely new…
Standardized pathways cut costs, hospital days in pediatric surgery without raising complication rates
Editor's Note Standardized perioperative protocols can reduce hospital stays and costs for children undergoing surgery without affecting complication rates, JAMA Surgery August 20 reports. As detailed in this original investigation, the researchers evaluated the Minimizing Variance in Pediatric Surgery (MViPS) program, a fellow-led initiative launched in 2013 across two academic…
UC Davis secures $2M to study bone health in prostate cancer, prevent post-injury arthritis
Editor's Note The UC Davis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery has received more than $2.2 million in Department of Defense funding for two research projects addressing bone health in prostate cancer and preventing arthritis after joint injuries, a UC Davis Health July 15 news release reports. The larger grant, $1.8 million,…
Artificial disc replacement proves safe, efficient, cost-saving in outpatient spine surgery
Editor's Note Artificial disc replacement (ADR) in the cervical spine can be performed safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively in outpatient/ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), Ortho Spine News July 31 reports. The article details research from Steven J. Girdler, MD, of DISC Surgery Center, who reviewed 6 years of data from 1,043 patients…
Hospital-affiliated doctors drive highest costs by avoiding lower-cost sites
Editor's Note Patients treated by hospital-affiliated physicians are far less likely to receive specialty procedures in lower-cost settings, while private-equity–affiliated doctors are the most likely to steer patients toward these options, Ambulatory Surgery Center News August 12 reports. The findings come from a Mount Sinai study that examined physician affiliation,…
Imposter syndrome widespread among surgical trainees, disproportionately affects women
Editor's Note Nearly three-quarters of orthopedic surgery residents experience significant or intense imposter syndrome, with female trainees facing markedly higher risk, according to a study published April 7 in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Open Access. As detailed in the study, researchers surveyed 100 residents across seven US…
Global nursing workforce grows but inequities jeopardize health progress
Editor's Note The global nursing workforce has expanded to 29.8 million, up from 27.9 million in 2018, but stark disparities in nurse distribution threaten progress toward universal health coverage and global health security, according to a May 12 World Health Organization (WHO) news release announcing the State of the World’s…
Largest US healthcare fraud case reveals billions in false Medicare, Medicaid claims and vast schemes nationwide
Editor's Note The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has conducted the largest healthcare fraud takedown in US history, charging 324 individuals, including 96 licensed medical professionals, in schemes totaling more than $14.6 billion, HealthCare Business News July 8 reports. The nationwide crackdown involved 50 federal districts and 12 state attorneys…
Hospital margins improve as outpatient revenue accelerates, but costs loom
Editor's Note Hospital operating margins rose in June as outpatient revenue growth fueled stronger financial performance, though rising bad debt and non-labor expenses continue to pressure stability, according to Kaufman Hall’s latest National Hospital Flash Report. HealthLeaders August 18 covered the findings. As detailed in the article, the median year-to-date…
Free Daily News
- ACS issues new best practices for managing genitourinary trauma
- Complex aortic surgery shown safe with minimally invasive approach
- Drug that makes tumors glow is transforming cancer surgery
- Surgical robotics market accelerates as new players challenge industry giants
- Robotic surgery boosts 3-year relapse-free survival in rectal cancer
- Low-cost simulation helps surgical trainees practice crisis skills for major hemorrhage
- Nurse leaders weigh in on NCLEX pass rate decline, impact on workforce readiness
- FDA issues early alerts on multiple high-risk device recalls from J&J, Medtronic, Baxter, Boston Scientific
- New UCSF measure shows 1 in 60 cesarean deliveries involve serious surgical complications
- Hospitals can curb costly post-acute discharges with targeted periop programs, study finds