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 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 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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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…

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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…

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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…

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Editor's Note Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are increasingly recruiting international healthcare workers to offset ongoing physician and nursing shortages, yet rising visa costs and regulatory hurdles are making the process more challenging, Ambulatory Surgery Center News October 30 reports. Ann-Rose Johnson-Lewis, director of legal services at WorldWide HealthStaff Solutions, told…

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Editor's Note Senator Bernie Sanders and nurse leaders are demanding immediate federal action to address what they describe as a national nurse staffing crisis that is driving moral distress among nurses and putting patients at risk, Nurse.org October 27 reports. A US Senate HELP Committee hearing spotlighted compelling testimony from…

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Editor's Note Advocacy begins where safety meets purpose. That was the resounding message from UF Health Shands’ Michele Brunges, MSN, RN, CNOR, CHSE, director of surgical services; Katherine Hayes, BSN, RN, CNOR-CARD, nursing professional development specialist for perioperative services; and Kristy Perry, MSN, RN, CNOR, clinical coordinator of the north…

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