AMA 2026 CPT code set expands with AI, remote monitoring, leg revascularization updates
Editor's Note The American Medical Association (AMA) has released the 2026 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set, introducing 288 new codes that capture emerging technologies and modern care delivery models, the association announced on September 11. In total, the update includes 418 changes: 84 deletions, 46 revisions, and the newly…
PACU initiative cuts emergency response times from 9 to 2 minutes
Editor's Note A multidisciplinary quality improvement effort at Vanderbilt University Medical Center sharply reduced response times to post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) emergencies, demonstrating a model that other hospitals could replicate, OR Management News September 1 reports. By combining education, clear role identification, standardized anesthesiologist notification, and recurring mock code drills,…
Survey: Depression, loneliness surge among young and low-income adults
Editor's Note Depression rates in the US remain at historic highs, affecting more than 47 million adults, with young people and lower-income households experiencing the sharpest increases, a Gallup survey published on September 9 reports. The latest survey shows 18.3% of adults currently report having or being treated for depression,…
Kansas nurses warn licensing board’s rules leave them vulnerable to career-ending penalties
Editor's Note Nurses in Kansas are raising alarms that the state’s licensing system is punishing them for minor mistakes and lapses, leaving many unable to work, according to a series of reports by KWCH between August 27 and September 12. Lawmakers are now pressing the Kansas State Board of Nursing…
CDC projects hospitalization burden for 2025–2026 respiratory season
Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects that COVID-19, influenza, and RSV will together drive a similar level of peak hospitalizations this fall and winter compared to last season, according to a CDC August 25 outlook. The assessment, updated every 2 months, provides a baseline for…
Hospital complaints surge as oversight gaps leave patients frustrated
Editor's Note Patient complaints against hospitals have skyrocketed, rising 79% in just 5 years and topping 14,500 in fiscal year 2024, HealthLeaders September 12 reports. The surge reflects not only mounting dissatisfaction with care experiences but also systemic oversight delays that leave concerns unaddressed, fueling mistrust in hospitals. The Centers…
Ambulatory general surgery safe for older adults when patients are carefully selected
Editor's Note Older age alone should not exclude patients from ambulatory general surgery. A retrospective study published in Cureus on August 27 found that patients over 75 undergoing short-stay general surgical procedures experienced complication and reintervention rates comparable to younger peers, despite higher comorbidity and anesthetic risk scores. The analysis…
Outpatient artificial disc replacement proves safe, efficient, game-changing for spine surgery
Editor's Note Artificial disc replacement (ADR) no longer requires a hospital stay. In one of the largest analyses to date, a California surgical team reviewed 1,043 outpatient ADR cases over 6 years and found zero immediate hospital transfers, zero transfusions, and every patient discharged home in under 24 hours, LA…
Study identifies risk factors for PE and DVT after ambulatory surgery
Editor's Note Pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are rare after same-day surgeries, but when they occur, they carry high risks of death and readmission. According to Anesthesiology News May 12, a University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center analysis of more than 1.1 million outpatient procedures found an…
Surgical patients see better outcomes but face longer hospital stays, AHA and Vizient report finds
Editor's Note Hospitalized surgical patients in 2024 were nearly 20% more likely to survive than expected compared to 2019, according to an August 5 analysis from the American Hospital Association (AHA) and Vizient. The report credits safety improvements such as reductions in infections, falls, and major complications, even as surgical…
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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