Editor's Note According to a Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) analysis, the US healthcare system is in “serious condition,” with affordability collapsing and provider financial risk escalating, HealthLeaders September 19 reports. The group’s new Healthcare Vitals Tracker scored the industry just 35.9 out of 100, compared to a peak of…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
Editor's Note Startups selling artificial intelligence (AI) tools to hospitals are putting money on the line, offering guaranteed returns in a bid to win business from Epic and other entrenched vendors, Modern Healthcare September 16 reports. Several AI companies are reportedly restructuring their pricing strategies to reassure buyers and prove…
Editor's Note As hospitals face mounting workforce and financial pressures, budgeting skills are essential for today’s OR leaders. In this preview video, Cara Cook and Susie Law, RN, of Smart Healthcare Operations, share highlights from their upcoming session at the OR Manager Conference, "Finance and Productivity in the OR: Budgeting…
Editor's Note The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is set to reshape rural healthcare in ways that could destabilize already fragile systems. According to a September 3 JAMA Network article, the law is set to reduce federal Medicaid spending by more than $900 billion over 10 years, cuts that…
Editor's Note: This page is a companion page to the main article, "Survey: Staffing problems increase as surgical volume continues to rise." Most OR leaders (81%) report having a business manager. Historically, fewer than half had this position (42% in 2024, 37% in 2023, and 43% in 2022). The…
Editor's Note Dozens of companies are racing to stake a claim in the rapidly expanding surgical robotics market, with multiple launches, partnerships, and regulatory milestones signaling a pivotal moment for the field. Challengers to established leaders are advancing soft tissue systems, targeting specialty niches, and building executive teams to scale…