Editor's Note A cohort study conducted across 10 hospitals in the Mass General Brigham system found that stopping universal masking and SARS-CoV-2 testing significantly increased hospital-onset respiratory viral infections, while reinstating masking for healthcare workers reduced those rates. As detailed in a November 27 research letter in Jama Network Open,…
Editor's Note A recent study developed and validated an artificial intelligence (AI) model leveraging natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to significantly improve prediction accuracy for surgical case length. Published November 29 in the journal Surgery, the findings show promise for using AI as an alternative to current methods…
Editor's Note The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a new rule establishing the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model, a 6-year, mandatory initiative to enhance access to kidney transplants, improve care quality, and reduce disparities. Managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the program…
Editor's Note Data show nearly half of rural hospitals categorized as high-risk financially improved their stability after mergers, acquisitions, or affiliations (M&A) with larger health systems, Fierce Healthcare reported December 2. Conducted by Dobson DaVanzo & Associates and commissioned by the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare, the analysis found that 110…
Editor's Note With the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) market projected to reach $130.6 billion by 2031—a compound annual growth rate of 3.9%—ASC leaders pointed Becker’s ASC Review to key trends and opportunities fueling this growth. Outpatient care continues to expand across various specialties, and several factors are driving this shift,…
Editor's Note Health systems across the US are reimagining their infrastructure by heavily investing in outpatient care and repurposing hospital spaces to meet growing demands for mental health and rehabilitation services, Modern Healthcare December 2 reports. This shift reflects a broader trend toward community-based care and aligns with advancements in…
Editor's Note Non-operative management (NOM) with antibiotics for pediatric uncomplicated appendicitis is both less expensive and slightly more effective than urgent laparoscopic appendectomy over a one-year period, according to a study published November 19 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The findings support the viability of NOM…
Editor's Note The American Medical Association (AMA) expressed “strong opposition” to a proposed regulation in Washington, DC, that would allow certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to use the title “nurse anesthesiologist.” As detailed in a December 2 announcement, a letter to the DC Department of Health from AMA CEO James…
Editor's Note A Republican-led House subcommittee investigating the COVID-19 pandemic released a 520-page final report summarizing its two-year inquiry, outlining recommendations for future pandemic preparedness and critiquing both US and global responses to the crisis. CNN reported the news December 2. The report concludes that COVID-19 most likely emerged from…
Editor's Note Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) say their newly created coating could enhance the safety of medical devices by reducing the risks of thrombosis and excessive bleeding in patients. As reported November 30 in Fox News, researchers' findings, published in the journal Nature Materials, highlight how…