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…

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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…

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Takeaways • Robot-assisted surgery (RAS) is now an option in many specialties and for adult and pediatric patients; RAS-related ethical issues include access and patient privacy. • Intuitive Surgical continues to dominate the marketplace, but many companies are working on expanding their range of options. • Some current trends and…

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Editor's Note The UC Davis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery has received more than $2.2 million in Department of Defense funding for two research projects addressing bone health in prostate cancer and preventing arthritis after joint injuries, a UC Davis Health July 15 news release reports. The larger grant, $1.8 million,…

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For decades, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have shown their ability to deliver high-quality surgical care at substantially lower cost than hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). ASCs achieve these savings through leaner operations, streamlined staffing models, and specialty-focused efficiencies, not by compromising safety or outcomes. Studies consistently highlight procedures performed in ASCs…

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Editor's Note Hospital operating margins rose in June as outpatient revenue growth fueled stronger financial performance, though rising bad debt and non-labor expenses continue to pressure stability, according to Kaufman Hall’s latest National Hospital Flash Report. HealthLeaders August 18 covered the findings. As detailed in the article, the median year-to-date…

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Editor's Note Most US health systems are choosing artificial intelligence (AI) tools from vendors already connected to their electronic health record (EHR) systems rather than from new, standalone AI startups, Modern Healthcare August 14 reports. The findings come from a July survey of 233 health systems conducted by the Healthcare…

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Although hospital performance from January to April 2025 outpaced the first 4 months of 2024, according to Kaufman Hall’s June 2025 “National Hospital Flash Report,” many surgical departments remain under intense financial pressure. Labor and supply costs continue to rise, while surgical services are especially vulnerable to inefficiencies like labor…

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Editor's Note Poor planning and rushed decisions derail too many ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) before they open their doors. In a recent blog post, ASC consultant Emily Spooner outlined the top five errors commonly made during ASC development, offering targeted guidance on how to avoid them. According to the post,…

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Editor's Note US hospitals and physician practices demonstrate steady financial performance through the second quarter of 2025, with health system operating margins holding at a median 1.2% year-to-date, according to new data from Strata Decision Technology analyzing more than 1,850 hospitals and 152,000 physicians. DotMed reported the news August 4,…

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