Editor's Note HHS is seeking public input on how the federal agency can accelerate adoption and use of AI as part of clinical care in the United States, according to a Request for Information (RFI) released on December 19. Through this RFI, stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on how…

Read More

Editor's Note Joint Commission has posted its updated Survey Process Guides (SPGs) for hospitals and critical access hospitals on its website, according to the December 10 issue of Joint Commission Online. The SPGs, which are effective January 1, 2026, represent a major revision that replaces the Survey Activity Guide for…

Read More

Editor's Note Language access should be considered more than a patient experience issue because it’s also required for safety and accreditation, according to a December 2 story in Becker’s Hospital Review. One example is Joint Commission’s new National Performance Goals that take effect in January 2026, specifically NPGs 4 and…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

Editor's Note Olympus Corporation announced a voluntary, global medical device corrective action to provide further clarification on the safe and effective use of bronchoscopes with laser therapy, argon plasma coagulation or high-frequency cauterization equipment during therapeutic procedures within the tracheobronchial tree, according to a November 3 notification from the US…

Read More

Editor's Note In this session, Beverly Kirchner, BSN, RN, CNOR(E), CASC, vice president of compliance at TriasMD and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) track leader for the OR Manager Conference, spoke on behalf of Parkland Health’s JD Boucher and Karen Garvey on how violence against healthcare workers is rising and requires…

Read More

Editor's Note Unchecked surgical innovation can harm patients, derail careers, and erode trust, Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England October 31 reports. Failures to properly evaluate and monitor new or modified procedures have led to patient harm, surgeon suspensions, and even criminal convictions, per the article, which…

Read More