Editor's Note Patient safety indicators measured by case mix index and risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality show a return to pre-pandemic improvement trajectories in US hospitals, according to research findings published November 12 in JAMA. These findings come from a retrospective cohort study that looked at encounter-level administrative and financial data from…

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Editor's Note As AI rapidly becomes adopted into healthcare systems, C-suite leaders are front and center to bring technologies into practice. But are they feeling prepared? Not necessarily, according to an HFMA survey report published November 12. The survey findings showed leaders’ AI skills are emerging, especially surrounding AI competency.…

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Editor's Note Circadian health plays a role in cardiometabolic disease risk and clinicians should take note of this, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association described in a November 14 news story in JAMA. Circadian disruptions are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.…

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Editor's Note Antibiotic prophylaxis remains an important tool to lower risk of infection. In orthopedic open fracture repair there is high risk of postoperative infection, wound complications, and nonunion. However, providing effective antibiotic coverage to prevent infections must also be balanced with maintaining antibiotic stewardship to minimize resistance and adverse…

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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 Three nurse executives shared their essential strategies to drive effective change, including by building their own leadership skills for transforming feedback into change, according to a recent webinar summary in a November 12 HealthLeaders news story. They suggested in the webinar that nurse leaders should have a keen…

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Editor's Note In-person approaches to assess and manage patients who have been recently diagnosed with bone fractures face challenges with meeting patient demand. This can delay accurate and timely clinical decisions for further care. Research suggests that virtual fracture clinics can be an effective alternative to in-person fracture clinics. The…

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Editor's Note Balancing a limited nursing staff without compromising quality patient care or staff satisfaction can be a delicate balancing act. One large midwestern hospital experiencing inadequate nurse staffing levels and a spike in discharge delays tested a new staffing model in which LPNs supported medically stable patients through a…

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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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