Senator pushes for national nurse-to-patient ratios, sounds alarm on patient safety
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…
Session: Advocacy in action—Empowering your teams toward successful legislative integration, safety excellence
Editor's Note Advocacy begins where safety meets purpose. That was the resounding message from UF Health Shands’ Michele Brunges, MSN, RN, CNOR, CHSE, director of surgical services; Katherine Hayes, BSN, RN, CNOR-CARD, nursing professional development specialist for perioperative services; and Kristy Perry, MSN, RN, CNOR, clinical coordinator of the north…
CMS narrows surveys to immediate jeopardy, harm during shutdown
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has activated shutdown rules that confine Medicare survey and certification work to health and safety essentials, according to an October 21 memo from the agency. Per the revised memorandum, excepted work during the federal shutdown includes investigations of complaints and…
Governors form alliance to fill federal public health gaps amid cuts, shutdown
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…
Telehealth in limbo: Providers split on continuing Medicare services during shutdown
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…
States take aim at outpatient facility fees driving higher commercial health costs
Editor's Note States are sharpening their focus on outpatient facility fees, using new data and reporting mandates to expose how these charges inflate commercial healthcare spending, HealthAffairs October 6 reports. Specifically, Colorado, Maine, Connecticut, and Washington have launched varied but increasingly sophisticated efforts to monitor when and where hospitals bill…
California’s worsening nurse shortage fuels burnout, safety concerns amid management tensions
Editor's Note The nursing shortage in California is deepening, with RN vacancies projected to grow from 3.7% in 2024 to 16.7% by 2033, HealthLeaders and KFF Health News October 8 report. The researchers cite inadequate training and retention pipelines, while nurses on the front lines say mismanagement, understaffing, and profit…
AI is turning medical devices into learning systems, Google Cloud exec says
Editor's Note Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving medical technology from reactive tools to adaptive learning systems, Medical Device Network October 6 reports. Shweta Maniar, Google Cloud’s global director of healthcare and life sciences, said that advances in agentic AI are enabling medtech devices to anticipate patient needs, simplify operations, and…
Global medical community rejects Trump’s Tylenol-autism claims: Statements compilation
Editor's Note Medical and scientific groups across the US and abroad swiftly pushed back against President Donald Trump’s September 22 announcement that acetaminophen use in pregnancy may cause autism, with experts warning the claims are unsupported and potentially harmful. Trump, joined by HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, also suggested…
Kansas nurses warn licensing board’s rules leave them vulnerable to career-ending penalties
Editor's Note Nurses in Kansas are raising alarms that the state’s licensing system is punishing them for minor mistakes and lapses, leaving many unable to work, according to a series of reports by KWCH between August 27 and September 12. Lawmakers are now pressing the Kansas State Board of Nursing…
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- Senator pushes for national nurse-to-patient ratios, sounds alarm on patient safety
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