Editor's Note NorthStar Anesthesia is expanding its reach across Georgia’s ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), reinforcing its strategy of pairing local clinical autonomy with scalable anesthesia services, an October 1 PR Newswire press release reports. NorthStar reportedly supports more than 60 ASCs statewide through a model focused on transparency, long-term relationships,…

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Editor's Note Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are increasingly recruiting international healthcare workers to offset ongoing physician and nursing shortages, yet rising visa costs and regulatory hurdles are making the process more challenging, Ambulatory Surgery Center News October 30 reports. Ann-Rose Johnson-Lewis, director of legal services at WorldWide HealthStaff Solutions, told…

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Editor’s Note Healthcare cannot afford to “rewind,” said Dan Weberg, PhD, MHI, RN, FAAN, executive director of nursing workforce development and innovation at Kaiser Permanente, during his opening keynote on leading and embracing innovation in healthcare. According to Dr Weberg, healthcare’s “blockbuster moment” has arrived, and leaders must choose to…

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Editor's Note Three days of education and networking await perioperative leaders attending this week’s OR Manager Conference, which runs through Thursday, October 30, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. By the time Dan Weberg, PhD, MHI, RN, FAAN, takes the stage Tuesday morning with his opening keynote, "Healthcare’s…

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Editor's Note Financial hardship is widespread among the US healthcare workforce, with the lowest-paid workers facing rates of poverty and food insecurity comparable to those seen in the general population, JAMA Network October 22 reports. Drawing from 2020–2023 data in the US Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation, researchers…

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Editor's Note Private equity firms are accelerating their push into outpatient cardiology, lured by reimbursement trends and a fragmented market but shadowed by concerns about patient outcomes and financial motives, Modern Healthcare October 16 reports. Investor activity in cardiology has surged alongside the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)…

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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 Sweeping layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have gutted the agency’s ability to track overdoses, injuries, and violent deaths, Axios October 15 reports. The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, once a cornerstone of public health surveillance, now operates with roughly one-third of…

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Editor's Note Hospitals, physicians, and private equity are accelerating their push into lower-cost outpatient care. According to Colliers US Healthcare Services Research Report Q3 2025, published on September 22, ambulatory surgery center (ASCs) procedure volumes are projected to grow 9% between 2023 and 2028—outpacing hospital outpatient department growth at 7%—and…

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Editor's Note The US continues to outspend every other wealthy nation on healthcare, not because Americans use more services but because the prices of those services are far higher, Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker September 4 reports. The analysis compares US healthcare prices and utilization with 11 similarly wealthy countries and…

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