Editor's Note Sterile processing departments (SPDs) face chronic staffing shortages and underinvestment that put surgical patients at risk, according to a Surgical Directions September 18 report. It emphasizes that sterile processing technicians, who decontaminate, inspect, and sterilize every surgical instrument, remain under-recognized despite their central role in surgical safety. Per…

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Editor's Note Ascension posted a $917.7 million net income for fiscal 2025 and credits ambulatory growth and tighter spending controls, Healthcare Dive September 19 reports. The nonprofit system reversed a $1.07 billion loss from the prior year and said results reflect “operational discipline,” including improved labor productivity and reduced spend…

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Editor's Note Ambulatory care leaders can now sharpen compliance strategies with the release of the 2025 Quality Roadmap from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), published September 22. The annual report distills more than a year of survey findings into practical guidance for addressing the most common accreditation…

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Growth is the goal in any ASC—growth in volume, growth in profits, and often growth to new locations. For DISC Surgery Centers, which just opened its sixth ambulatory surgery center (ASC) through parent company TriasMD, that growth has been the result of many factors. A key driver, according to Frank…

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Editor's Note Surgical quality leaders are pushing boundaries with new strategies that blend technology, frontline engagement, and national-local collaboration. That was the message from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Quality and Safety Conference (QSC), held July 17–20, 2025, in San Diego, according to a September 10 ACS report. The…

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Editor's Note Innovation is transforming surgical care faster than most institutions can keep pace, but leaders must distinguish between investments that advance patient care and those that add cost without meaningful benefit. That is the central message from a September 8 Harvard Medical School article featuring insights from Jon O.…

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Editor's Note Two of the nation’s largest health systems are reporting major progress in nurse retention after investing in structured residency programs, mentorship, and professional development. According to a September 10 article from the Catholic Health Association of the United States, CommonSpirit Health has boosted new nurse retention to 86%…

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Editor's Note Deaths from falls among Americans over 65 have more than tripled in the past 3 decades, raising alarm among geriatric experts and fueling debate about the role of prescription drugs, HealthLeaders September 15 reports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded more than 41,000 fall-related deaths…

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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,…

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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…

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