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 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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Editor's Note Seasonal influenza activity remains low nationally but is increasing, primarily among children, according to the CDC weekly influenza report published November 14. The CDC reported the percent positivity for influenza and the percentage of emergency department visits for influenza among pediatric age groups increased for the week ending…

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Editor's Note Three nurse executives shared their essential strategies to drive effective change, including by building their own leadership skills for transforming feedback into change, according to a recent webinar summary in a November 12 HealthLeaders news story. They suggested in the webinar that nurse leaders should have a keen…

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Editor's Note Balancing a limited nursing staff without compromising quality patient care or staff satisfaction can be a delicate balancing act. One large midwestern hospital experiencing inadequate nurse staffing levels and a spike in discharge delays tested a new staffing model in which LPNs supported medically stable patients through a…

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Editor's Note Updates to evidence-based guidance in the AORN 2026 Guideline for the Care and Cleaning of Surgical Instruments were summarized in a November 7 AORN news story to outline key updates such as new PPE recommendations for perioperative staff working in the decontamination area. For example, new recommendations in…

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