AHA study: HOPD Medicare patients are poorer, sicker, more rural than those seen in physician offices
Editor's Note Medicare patients treated in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) present with greater socioeconomic and clinical complexity than peers seen in independent physician offices, including higher prior emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient use. According to an American Hospital Association (AHA) study conducted by KNG Health Consulting and published on…
CMS plan to phase out inpatient only list sparks debate over safety for vulnerable patients
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is moving to eliminate its Inpatient Only (IPO) List over the next 3 years, a decision that could permanently shift more surgical procedures from hospitals to outpatient settings. According to an August 24 article from Fierce Healthcare, the policy promises…
ACS issues new best practices for managing genitourinary trauma
Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has released updated Best Practices Guidelines for the Management of Genitourinary Injuries, providing trauma teams with evidence-based recommendations to improve outcomes for patients with injuries to the kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra, and genitalia. According to an ACS August 26 news release, the…
Strategies for perioperative leaders to build a diverse workforce
In perioperative care, high-performing teams are critical to patient safety and workflow efficiency. Diversity in hiring is not only a matter of compliance—it directly influences care quality, communication, and innovation. A diverse healthcare workforce reflects the varied backgrounds of patients, which builds trust and cultural competency. Research shows that when…
Hospitals can curb costly post-acute discharges with targeted periop programs, study finds
Editor's Note One in 10 older adults and one-third of the highest risk patients are discharged to post-acute care facilities after major surgery, driving up costs and worsening outcomes. According to the American College of Surgeons (ACS) in an August 25 release on a Journal of the American College of…
Sameness in nursing care puts patients at risk
Editor's Note Treating every patient the same may feel fair, but it can be dangerous, according to a September 2025 article from the American Journal of Nursing, which argues that cultural indifference in nursing practice undermines patient safety and trust. Per the article, person-centered care requires more than standardized protocols.…
CMS’s plan to phase out inpatient-only list could bolster rural ASCs
Editor's Note The proposal from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to eliminate the Medicare Inpatient Only (IPO) list over 3 years could significantly expand opportunities for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), with rural facilities among those positioned to benefit most, Ambulatory Surgery Center News August 12 reports. The…
Imposter syndrome widespread among surgical trainees, disproportionately affects women
Editor's Note Nearly three-quarters of orthopedic surgery residents experience significant or intense imposter syndrome, with female trainees facing markedly higher risk, according to a study published April 7 in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Open Access. As detailed in the study, researchers surveyed 100 residents across seven US…
Breast cancer surgery delays tied to higher upstaging, faster tumor growth
Editor's Note Each month of delay between breast cancer diagnosis and surgery raises the likelihood of tumor upstaging, nodal spread, and in vivo tumor growth, according to a national database analysis published in Annals of Surgical Oncology on July 23. The researchers reviewed records from more than 1 million patients…
Study: Global access to surgery deemed a crisis, leaves 160 million without care
Editor's Note At least 160 million people worldwide are unable to receive essential surgical care each year, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) most affected, News Medical Life Sciences July 15 reports. The study, published in The Lancet and led by the University of Birmingham’s NIHR Global Health Research Unit…
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- Healthcare job gain in August offset by losses in federal government, other industries
- AHA study: HOPD Medicare patients are poorer, sicker, more rural than those seen in physician offices
- ACS, Lifesaving Technologies launch nationwide effort to expand bleeding control readiness
- Minimally invasive ICH surgery evacuates clot fast but fails to improve 6-month outcomes
- Rural hospitals face crisis under OBBBA as experts call for cohesive reform
- AMA urges health systems to act now on AI governance
- Suicide Prevention Month: Hospitals prepare for new The Joint Commission suicide prevention goal, effective 2026
- Survey: Perioperative leaders adapt to supply strain, staffing pressure, ASC growth
- Gait retraining eases knee osteoarthritis pain as effectively as medication, can delay knee surgery
- OR leaders must sharpen questions, partnerships as AI reshapes perioperative care