Editor's Note Monday’s solar eclipse has prompted hospitals in affected areas to implement precautionary measures in advance of an expected influx of visitors as well as potential communication and other difficulties, Becker’s Hospital Review reported April 2. Areas in the path of totality, which stretches from Central Texas to Northeastern…

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Editor's Note Scientists have found a new way to more precisely control tiny robots used in surgeries using an oscillating magnet. The findings were published in the journal npj Robotics (part of the Nature Portfolio) on March 28.  Nanorobots capable of transporting drugs, performing surgical procedures, or taking tissue measurements…

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Editor's Note Based on the performance of two specific systems in detecting healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in a recent study, artificial intelligence (AI) could help providers enhance surveillance, streamline tasks, and free staff to focus on patient care. Published March 14 in The American Journal of Infection Control, the study assessed…

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Editor's Note Reducing surgeon manipulation of electronic health record (EHR) OR scheduling systems can improve efficiency, save resources, and enhance service to patients, according to data published in the March/April issue of the Journal of Healthcare Management. Although predictive models using EHR and machine learning improve accuracy compared to traditional…

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Editor's Note A paper published March 29 in the journal Bioengineering examines the growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into hospital and healthcare systems and the way in which it is augmenting clinical decision-making, optimizing hospital operation and management, improving medical image analysis, and transforming patient care and monitoring through…

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Editor's Note Data collected from more than 1,300 hospitals nationwide for Kaufman Hall’s National Hospital Flash Report shows strong margins—averaging 3.9% in February—but does not account for significant, near-term headwinds, according to a March 28 article from HealthLeaders. Revenue growth is primarily from outpatient care, and inpatient revenue continues to…

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Editor's Note Medical recall software developer Notisphere is spearheading a collaborative effort among healthcare organizations to address inefficiencies with the recall alert communication process, reduce burdens on providers, speed regulatory compliance achievement by suppliers, and enhance patient safety. As noted in the company’s March 29 announcement, the Universal Recall Platform…

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Takeaways From mobile phone apps to immersive virtual reality surgery experiences, digital tools make healthcare training more interactive, more engaging, and more fun for everyone from nurses to surgeons. Modern procedures—including minimally invasive techniques and robotic surgery—require 50 to 100 cases for a surgeon to reach a safe proficiency level…

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What if a surgeon decided to perform a procedure on a patient that was not totally necessary? It happens more often that one might realize. As recently as August 2023, Forbes published an article that cited a Harvard Business Review report stating that over 50% of lumbar spine surgeries are…

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Next-Gen Disruptors: Technologies Transforming the OR Installment #1, presented by LeanTaaS Surgical procedures are necessary steps in patient journeys—no one wants to have surgery, but most people will need it at some point for care continuity and better quality of life. To best support positive outcomes, optimal recovery periods, and…

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