Editor's Note The US government has launched a new Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR) program to develop autonomous robotic systems that can improve access to remote surgical interventions for thrombectomy in stroke patients and other time-sensitive procedures that not every patient has adequate and immediate access to, according to a…

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Editor's Note Almost half of Americans shared concerns that they won’t be able to afford necessary healthcare in the coming year, and 20% of Americans reported that they or someone they live with couldn’t pay for prescription medications, according to findings from the State of the States 2025: Insights on…

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Editor's Note With the increasing shift from inpatient to outpatient care in the US, one important question is how this shift impacts care access across patient populations from different socioeconomic areas. This is especially true as financial incentives can potentially lead to ASC openings in more affluent areas to increase…

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Editor's Note Mayo Clinic has released a free, digital tool requiring no account or subscription that allows anyone to investigate healthcare quality by city, care specialty, or hospital, an October 30 press release from the health system reports. The tool includes search capability for a range of specific surgical specialties,…

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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 Transparent communication, humility, and swift action are essential for effective service recovery in perioperative services, said Leiran Cornish, MBA-HM, BSN, RN, director of nursing, Dartmouth Health Outpatient Surgery Center, and Patrel Nobles, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CNOR,  system senior director, surgical services, Valley Health. Their session explored how nurse…

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Editor's Note A personalized digital tool is helping patients and orthopedic surgeons make more informed, confident decisions about total knee replacement (TKR), according to BMC Health Services Research October 21. Both patients and surgeons reported the EKIT tool—a tablet-based decision aid developed in Germany—improves shared decision-making (SDM), enhances communication, and…

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Editor's Note Fifteen states and territories are banding together to rebuild the nation’s weakened public health infrastructure as federal support falters, CIDRAP October 17 reports from October 15 Wall Street Journal coverage. According to the news, Democratic governors have launched the Governors Public Health Alliance, a nonpartisan, nonprofit effort to…

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Editor's Note UnitedHealthcare’s 15% cut to certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) reimbursements has ignited strong opposition from anesthesia leaders who warn the policy could endanger patient access to safe, affordable care in rural and underserved areas, Nurse.org October 14 reports. On October 1, UnitedHealthcare implemented the new policy, reducing payments…

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Editor's Note Telehealth providers are divided over whether to continue serving Medicare patients after reimbursement expired alongside the federal government shutdown, Modern Healthcare October 9 reports. The impasse has forced organizations to weigh patient access against financial risk, with many issuing advance beneficiary notices warning patients they may be responsible…

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