Editor's Note A revised legal standard for assessing medical negligence in the US shifts away from customary medical practice and toward a more patient-centered definition of reasonable care, according to a February 26 letter published in Jama Network. Following a 2024 update from the American Law Institute, the new framework…

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Editor's Note Baxter Healthcare Corporation has issued a letter to affected customers recommending certain Spectrum infusion pumps be removed from where they are used or sold, according to a March 5 early alert from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA notice concerns the Sigma Spectrum Infusion System…

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Editor's Note The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) has opened a public comment period for proposed revisions to its v44 standards, ASC Focus February 28 reports. From now until March 29, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders are encouraged to share insights that will help refine the guidance for…

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From sharps and blood-soaked surgical instruments to discarded anesthetic agents, biohazardous waste from ORs can threaten human health and the environment. In addition, failure to adhere to regulatory requirements can result in significant fines. However, the volume and diversity of biohazardous waste can create challenges with managing this material. Mitigating…

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Takeaways • The prevalence of needlesticks and other sharp object injuries to OR team members is 42.8%, an increase of 16% over the past decade. • New research and perspectives are shaping the discourse around sharps safety, such as new and expanded evidence-based practices presented in AORN’s 2025 update to…

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It is often said that small actions lead to big results. This so happens to be the case with hand hygiene compliance (HHC) in healthcare. Imagine a simple act, like washing hands, cutting infection rates by half—hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and surgical site infections being reduced simply by improving handwashing behaviors.…

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Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated Getinge’s recall of Vaporizer Sevoflurane Maquet Filling and Sevoflurane Quick-Fil and Philips’ recall of Tack Endovascular Systems as Class 1s, the most severe category indicating serious risk of injury or death. The Getinge recall is an expansion of a 2024…

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Editor's Note Large employers are warning hospitals they will not absorb higher costs if plans by Republicans and the Trump administration for deep Medicaid cuts proceed, a February 28 article in Modern Healthcare reports. The threat of reduced Medicaid funding has reignited concerns about hospitals shifting costs onto employers and…

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Editor's Note Tenet Healthcare closed 2024 on a high note, reporting robust fourth-quarter results driven by strategic growth in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and effective cost management, Healthcare Finance February 18 and Healthcare Dive February 13 report. Partnering with United Surgical Partners International (USPI), one of the largest ASC platforms…

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Editor's Note President Donald Trump signed an executive order to enforce healthcare price transparency regulations, according to a February 25 report in Fierce Healthcare. As detailed in the article, the order directs the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services (HHS) to rapidly implement and enforce price transparency…

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