Safety/Quality
Blast from the past: Revised data, evolving standards for OSA care in the perioperative setting
An estimated 22 million Americans were believed to have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in 2019, according to data cited in a February 2019 article published by OR Manager. At that time, up to 80% of cases were undiagnosed, and 30% to 40% of the surgical patient population was believed to…
FDA designates Class 1 recall for cranial drill
Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated Integra LifeSciences’ recall of specific Codman Disposable Perforators and Craniotomy Kits a Class 1, the most severe category indicating serious risk of injury or death. As detailed in the agency’s July 16 announcement, the recall of the single-use cranial…
Transcendental meditation linked to reduced burnout, anxiety in women healthcare workers
Editor's Note Women healthcare professionals who practiced transcendental meditation (TM) for three months showed greater improvements in burnout, emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and insomnia than those who received usual treatment, according to a July 9 Healio article. The report focuses on data presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference—namely, a…
Rehab hospitals face scrutiny over safety, profits
Editor's Note Although for-profit rehab hospitals have become highly profitable, a recent KFF Health News report highlights serious safety violations, including patient deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning, medication errors, and falls. Published July 15, the article delves into recent data and inspections of these facilities, particularly those run by…
Five underreported health changes in 'big beautiful bill'
Editor's Note Although the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act is best known for major Medicaid cuts and a temporary Medicare Physician Fee Schedule increase, it also carries significant policy changes that could affect providers, patients, and the physician workforce, MedPage Today reported July 11. The article lists five…
FDA designates Class 1 recalls for EVH system, infusion pump
Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated recent recalls of Getinge and Maquet’s VasoView HemoPro 2 (VH-4000 and VH-4001) Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting Systems and BD’s Alaris Pump Module model 810 as Class 1, the most severe category indicating serious risk of injury or death. According to…
CMS proposes 2026 Medicare pay bump, targets wasteful spending
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a 3.62% increase to the 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule, according to a July 14 article in Fierce Healthcare. The proposed rule sets the conversion factor at $33.42, up from $32.35 in 2025. The increase reflects a 2.5%…
Hospital M&A climbs as rural, outpatient shifts reshape care strategies
Editor's Note Hospital mergers and acquisitions saw a slight increase in Q2 2025, but broader shifts in healthcare affiliations and delivery models continue to gather momentum, according to a July 10 Kaufman Hall analysis of M&A activity for the second quarter of 2025. The report recorded eight hospital and health…
Study: Stem cell strategy could eliminate kidney transplant patients’ need for immunosuppressants
Editor's Note A stem cell-based transplant method enabled most kidney recipients in a recent clinical trial to stop taking immunosuppressive drugs, according to a July 15 article in HealthDay. As detailed in the article, the approach was tested in a phase 3 multicenter, randomized controlled trial published in the American…
Study: Clean paper towels match or exceed sterile options in surgical hand antisepsis
Editor's Note A study published July 9 in the American Journal of Infection Control found that clean paper towels are as effective—and in some cases more efficient—than sterile alternatives for surgical hand antisepsis. The results support their use as a cost-saving and safe alternative to sterile hand-drying products in surgical…
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